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Poisonous, harmful and dangerous plants

Help solve your gardening problem. Here are the answers to some commonly asked gardening questions about dangerous, poisonous plants and those plants causing skin allergies with hints, tips and advice.

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I need to know which commonly grown plants are poisonous to children and in which way they are harmful.

Children should always be taught never to eat anything they find in the garden.

Here's a list of plants that have been shown to be toxic to humans or can cause skin allergies.

Aconitum CAUTION toxic if eaten
Arum CAUTION toxic if eaten/skin & eye irritant
Colchicum CAUTION toxic if eaten
Convallaria majalis CAUTION toxic if eaten
Daphne laureola CAUTION toxic if eaten/may cause skin allergy
Daphne mezereum CAUTION toxic if eaten/may cause skin allergy
Daphne (all other species) CAUTION toxic if eaten
Datura CAUTION toxic if eaten
Dictamnus albus CAUTION skin irritant in sunlight
Dieffenbachia CAUTION toxic if eaten/skin & eye irritant
Digitalis CAUTION toxic if eaten
Gloriosa superba CAUTION toxic if eaten
Laburnum CAUTION toxic if eaten
Lantana CAUTION toxic if eaten
Nerium oleander CAUTION toxic if eaten
Phytolacca CAUTION toxic if eaten
Primula obconica CAUTION may cause skin allergy
Ricinus communis CAUTION toxic if eaten
Ruta CAUTION severely toxic to skin in sunlight
Solanum dulcamara CAUTION toxic if eaten
Pernettya CAUTION toxic if eaten
Taxus CAUTION toxic if eaten
Veratrum CAUTION toxic if eaten

The following plants can be harmful if eaten or may cause a skin allergy.

Aesculus Harmful if eaten
Agrostemma githago Harmful if eaten
AIstroemeria May cause skin allergy
Aquilegia Harmful if eaten
Caltha Harmful if eaten
Catharanthus roseus Harmful if eaten
Cupressocyparis leylandii May cause skin allergy
Delphinium Harmful if eaten
Dendranthema May cause skin allergy
(excluding pot mums)
Echium Skin irritant
Euonymus Harmful if eaten
Euphorbia Harmful if eaten/skin & eye (except E. pulcherrima, poinsettia) irritant
Ficus carica Skin irritant in sunlight
Fremontodendron Skin & eye irritant
Gaultheria Harmful if eaten
Hedera Harmful if eaten/may cause skin allergy
Helleborus Harmful if eaten
Hyacinthus Skin irritant
Hypericum perforatum Harmful if eaten
Ipomoea Harmful if eaten
Iris Harmful if eaten
Juniperus sabina Harmful if eaten
Kalmia Harmful if eaten
Ligustrum Harmful if eaten
Lobelia tupa Harmful if eaten/skin & eye irritant
Lupinus Harmful if eaten
Narcissus Harmful if eaten/skin irritant
Ornithogalum Harmful if eaten
Polygonatum Harmful if eaten
Prunus laurocerasus Harmful if eaten
Rhamnus Harmful if eaten
Schefflera May cause skin allergy
Scilla Harmful if eaten
Thuja Harmful if eaten
Tulipa Skin irritant
Wisteria Harmful if eaten

Although this list seems complete, the following plants have also been listed.

Poisonous:
Galanthus nivalis: all parts
Ilex aquifolium: berries
Papaver somniferum (opium poppy): all parts
Prunus lusitanica: all parts
Rheum (rhubarb): leaves
Symphoricarpos: all parts

Irritant:
Lonicera: leaves
Scindapsus aureus: leaves

Others may be harmful, as individuals react differently to different substances. Not all people react to irritant plants. Allergic reactions vary from person to person; those with sensitive skin should be wary of most plants especially in full sun.

 

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