Monkshood is not the only poisonous plant you need to watch out for in your garden or home.  Many commonly grown garden or house plants can be dangerous and it is important to know which ones could pose a threat--especially if you have very young children that tend to put everything into their mouths or pets that might chew on the leaves or stems.      

There are two different ways that plants can be harmful. Some can make you physically ill, while others may cause extreme skin irritation.  Poison ivy is unquestionably the best-known skin irritant causing countless people distress every season; however, there are many other commonly grown plants that can also cause skin problems. 

Gasplant (Dictamnus albus) is an old-fashioned perennial that grows in many gardens--but did you know that it could cause a severe dermatitis should you brush against it on a hot summer day? The skin reaction has been described as similar to skin that has been scalded with boiling water. I found out about gasplant dematitis the hard way, and take it from me...it not only resembles a bad burn, but can leave permanent scarring. So, should you touch it with your bare skin on a hot, humid day immediately go in and wash off. If you do have a reaction, apply cortisone cream to avoid future scarring.

Other plants that have been reported to cause dermatitis are Jack-in-the-pulpit leaves (Arisaema triphyllum), Wild ginger leaves (Asarum canadense), Borage leaves (Borago officinalis), Lily of the Valley leaves (Convallaria majalis), Queen Anne’s Lace leaves (Daucus carota), the milky juice of Cushion Spurge (Euphorbia spp.), Juniper needles (Juniperus spp.) and even Iris rhizomes (Iris spp.) have been known to cause a rash on some people. 

While knowing which plants cause dermatitis is important, it is even more critical to recognize those plants that can make you and your children or pets physically ill.  It is usually the seeds that are the most toxic part of poisonous plants, however, the toxicity of a plant depends not only on its species, but how much is digested relative to the person’s weight.  That is why parents should be especially vigilant with smaller children who are the most at risk. 

Some of the symptoms of ingesting a toxic plant may be abdominal distress (cramping, vomiting and diarrhea), irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, convulsions and irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. 

If you suspect that a poisonous plant has been eaten, remove any remaining plant material from the victim’s mouth and then rinse it thoroughly with water. Immediately call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for more instructions. (This toll-free phone number will work no matter where you live in the United States. Please keep it where you can find it easily in an emergency.)

I’ve enclosed a list of poisonous plants below this article.  This is by no means a complete listing of all toxic plants, but I have tried to include some of the more commonly grown.  I don’t expect you to run outside and rip out every plant you find on the list.  Just keep it handy when you are choosing plants for areas where kids or pets spend a lot of time and might be tempted to taste the greenery.  I know it’s trite, but in this case “Better safe than sorry” really does apply.

For more poisonous plants information see the Poisonous Plants Home Page or the Harmful Plants Gallery.

FYI--Did you notice that poinsettias aren't on the list?