Poisonous Plants

NAME	TOXIC PARTS	SYMPTOMS
Aconite	All	Nausea and vomiting
Aloe Vera	.	Diarrhoea
Alsike Clover trifolium hybridum	whole plant generally affects horse, cattle and sheep	causes female organs to swell starts milk production without pregnancy, cause temporary or permanent infertility
Amaryllis	Bulbs	Upset Stomach, Hyperactivity Lethargy Coma, Shock
Angels' trumpets	Toxic if eaten	nausea and vomiting
Apple seeds & Apple pips	seeds	Varied Toxic Effects. The plant is cyanogenic
Apple leaf croton	Whole plant very toxic	Could be fatal – due to ricin – hemorrhages of the heart, degradation of the kidneys and liver and intense inflammation and erosion of intestinal membranes
Apricot Kernel	Kernels contain cyanide.	Children have died from eating too many kernels!
Arborvitae	Harmful if eaten in quantity	May cause a skin allergy
Asparagus fern	.	Contains a wide variety of poisons resulting in a bewildering range of symptoms.
Autumn crocus	bulbs and entire plant	vomiting, nervous excitement. Plant can cause dermatitis
Avocado	fruit and pith	diarrhoea, vomiting, laboured breathing,
Azalea	entire plant	nausea, vomiting, depression, difficulty breathing and coma
Barilla	leaves and stems	plant contains soluble oxalates
Benweed Senecio jacobaea	See Ragwort	See Ragwort
Bird of paradise	seeds	gastrointestinal tract affected by the plant toxins
Bittersweet	Entire plant	The plant is reputed to be toxic
Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia	All parts of the tree, except the flowers – the bark is considered the most toxic	staggering, paralysis, - mainly affecting horses, cattle sheep and poultry
Black Walnut	entire	Harmful if eaten in quantity. Can cause temporary paralysis
Bleeding Heart dicentra spectabilis	foliage, roots,	Poisonous in large amounts, contains convulsant including isoquinoline. Plant also causes dermatitis
Blue bell	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Boxwood	entire plant	Upset Stomach, Heart Failure, Excitability or Lethargy. Plant also causes dermatitis
Branching ivy	berries and leaves	gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis
British Manrake bryonia dioica	See White Bryony	See White Bryony
Buckeyes Aesculus hippocastanum	Nuts, immature growths	Gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins
Buckthorn	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Burning Bush	Toxic if eaten	Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
Buttercup Ranunculus spp.	entire plant	juice may severely injure digestive system. Plant also causes dermatitis
Caladium	.	Upset Stomach, Oral Irritation, Asphyxiation, Tremors, Seizures, Loss of Balance
Calico Bush	Toxic if eaten	Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
Calla lily	Leaves	Upset Stomach, Oral Irritation, Asphyxiation, Tremors, Seizures, Loss of Balance
Cannabis cannabis sativa	the whole plant – in all forms - it has a bitter taste and so generally avoided by animals	muscular weakness, salivation, vomiting, drowsiness – not generally fatal
Castor bean Ricinus communis L.	Entire Plant Highly toxic seeds contain toxalbumins.	A single Rosary Pea or one to two Castor Bean seeds can cause death. Plant also causes dermatitis
Charming dieffenbachia	mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in	Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea – recover after three days-
Cherry	Kernels	plant is cyanogenic
Cherry Laurel	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Chinese Lantern Solanum spp	See Nightshade	See *Nightshade*
Christmas Cherry Solanum spp	See *Nightshade*	See *Nightshade*
Christmas rose	entire plant	Upset Stomach, Diarrhoea, Seizures, Disorientation. Cardiovascular system affected by the cardiac glycosides helleborin and helleborein. Plant also causes dermatitis
Chrysanthemum	Leaves and stems	May cause a rash after contact. May cause dermatitis
Clematis	Entire plant	gastrointestinal tract and nervous system affected by plant toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Cocklebur Xanthium strumarium	.	.
Colombine	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Common Nettle urtica dioica	See Stinging Nettle	See Stinging nettle
Common St. Johns Wort hypericum perforatum	See St. Johns Wort	See St Johns Wort
Common Stonecrop sedum acre	the whole plant	if eaten in large quantities – salivation, muscle tremors, rapid respiration and coma
Cordatum	.	.
Corn cockle	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Cuckoo pint	.	Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
Cutleaf philodendron	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Cyclamen	Flowers	induced vomiting – skin reaction
Daffodil Narcissus spp.	bulbs	nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea caused by the alkaloid toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Daphne	berries and seeds, but also entire plant	gastrointestinal tract and kidneys affected by coumarin glycosides. Plant also causes dermatitis
Dwarf Bay	See *Mezereon*	See *Mezereon*
Deadly Nightshade Solanum spp	See Nightshade	See *Nightshade*
Delphinium Delphinium spp.	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Dendrathema	.	May cause a skin allergy
Devils figs	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Devil's Ivy (Philodendron)	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eat. Upset Stomach, Mouth Irritation, Tremors, Seizures, Loss of Balance, asphyxiation, death
Dracaena palm	.	.
Dumb cane dieffenbachia	.	Upset Stomach, Oral Irritation, Asphyxiation, Tremors, Seizures, Loss of Balance, Death
Dutchman Breechs Dicentra spp	See *Bleeding Heart*	See *Bleeding Heart*
Dwarf Morning glory	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Easter lily	.	(especially poisonous to cats)
Echium	.	May cause a skin allergy
Elderberry Sambucus canadensis L.	shoots, bark, and leaves. Entire plant.	nausea and vomiting. Plant is cyanogenic and may contain toxic levels of nitrates.
Elephant ears	all parts	intense burning, irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat. Death can occur is tongue swells enough to block air passage
English ivy Hedera helix L.	berries and leaves	gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Ergot Claviceps purpurea	.	Causes abortions in humans and sheep - suggestions it would do the same in dogs.
European spindle	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Exotica perfection dieffenbachia	mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in	Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea – recover after three days
False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia	See *Black Locust*	See *Black Locust*
False Hellebore	.	Nausea and vomiting.
Fescue Festuca arundinaceae	.	.
Flannel flower	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Flax	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea L.	Entire plant	cardiovascular system affected by the glycosides digitalin and digitoxin. Gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins
Fruit salad plant (philodendron)	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Gaultheria	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Geranium	.	Mild dermatitis
German ivy	berries and leaves	gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis
German primula	.	Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
Giant dumb cane	mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in	Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea – recover after three days-
Glacier ivy	berries and leaves	gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Glory Lily	.	causing nausea and vomiting
Gold dieffenbachia	mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in	Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea – recover after three days
Golden chain tree	entire plant especially bean-like capsules in which seeds are suspended	excitement, staggering, convulsions and coma. Nervous system affected by the alkaloid cytisine
Granny's bonnets	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Greater Burdock Arctium lappa	burs	Symptoms burs to coats of dogs cause skin irritation – dogs remove burrs by licking – hooked scales penetrate the mucous membrane of mouth and tongue – ulceration, oral discomfort, salivation
Hahn’s self-branching English ivy	berries and leaves	gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Heartleaf philodendron	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Hemp Cannabis sativa L.	See *Cannabis*	See *Cannabis*
Henbane	Toxic if eaten	Nausea and vomiting.
Holly	Berries	Upset Stomach, Tremors, Seizures, Loss of Balance
Honeysuckle lonicera periclymenum	plants and berries	vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy
Horse tail Equisetaceace	the complete weed	mainly affects horses and to a lesser cattle
Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum	'	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Horse head philodendron	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Hurricane plant	bulb	Varied Toxic Effects
Hyacinth Hyacinth orientalis	bulb	gastrointestinal tract affected by alkaloid toxins, Plant also causes dermatitis
Indian rubber plant	.	.
Iris	tubers	severe digestive upset. gastrointestinal tract affected by the glycoside iridin. plant also causes dermatitis
Ivy araliaceae	whole plant	vomiting, diarrhoea, excitement, muscular spasms, paralysis
Jack in the Pulpit Arisaema spp.	entire plant	contains small crystals of calcium oxalate, causes burning to the mouth, can cause hallucinations
Japanese show lily	.	especially poisonous to cats
Japanese Spindle	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Jessamine	berries and sap	Digestive disturbance. gastrointestinal tract affected by solanine glycoalkaloids. The nervous system affected by atropine-like toxins
Jerusalem cherry Solanum pseudocapsicum	immature growths.	gastrointestinal tract affected by solanine glycoalkaloids. may contain toxic levels of nitrates. plant may also cause dermatitis
Jimson Weed Datura stramonium L.	entire plant	abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence, coma caused by the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. May contain toxic levels of nitrates.
Johnsongrass	.	.
Kingcup	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Lacy tree philodendron	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Larkspur	young plants and seeds	digestive upset, nervousness, depression. Cardiovascular system affected by alkaloids including delphinine. Plant also causes dermatitis
Latana Lantana camara L.	green berries (immature)	affects lungs, heart, kidneys and nervous system, affected by lantodene, an atropine-like toxin. Plant is also hepatogenic
Laurel	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Lenton rose	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Leopard lily	.	Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
Leyland cypress	.	May cause a skin allergy
Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis	entire plant	irregular heart beat and pulse accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion caused by the glycosides convallarin and convallamarin
Lobelia tupa	.	May cause a skin allergy
Locust	bark, sprouts, foliage	nausea and weakness
Lupine Lupinus spp	.	.
Mallow	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Marsh Marigold	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Marble queen	.	.
Marijuana	leaves and flower bracts	plant contains the hallucinogens tetrahydro-cannabinols
May apple Podophyllum peltatum L.	apple, roots, foliage	severe diarrhoea. Contains 16 active toxic agents, mainly in the roots. Nervous system affected by plant toxins, also causes hematological abnormalities. Powdered root may cause conjunctivitis and keratitis
Meadow rue	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Meadow Saffron	.	nausea and vomiting
Mexican breadfruit	(split leaf philodendron)	.
Mezereon	.	could prove fatal – lethargy dizziness vomiting diarrhoea
Milkweed Asclepias syriaca L.	.	May cause a skin allergy
Mistletoe	berries, leaves and stems.	gastrointestinal tract affected by toxalbumins. Plant may also cause dermatitis. If ingested a few berries can be fatal to a puppy
Monkshood	entire plant especially fleshy roots	digestive upset and nervous excitement. cardiovascular system affected by alkaloid toxins
Moonseed	Berries resembles wild grapes, contains a single seed	contains convulsant
Morning glory	,	Upset Stomach, Hallucinations
Moroccan broom	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Mountain laurel	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Naked Lady Lilly	See *Amaryllis*	See *Amaryllis*
Narissus Narcissus spp.	bulbs	nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea caused by the alkaloid toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Needlepoint ivy	berries and leaves	gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Nightshade Solanum spp.	entire plant	intense digestive disturbances
Oak tree	Foliage and Acorns Also the bark of the tree.	Poisoning by oak is usually seasonal, being most common in spring when the young buds or leaves are eaten and the autumn when the acorns are eaten. Oak leaves and acorns contain tannic acid which is poisonous to horses and though eating a small number of leaves or acorns is almost certainly harmless, they can also be addictive, and once a horse has acquired a taste for them they can actively search them out. Also some animals seem to be more susceptible to oak poisoning than others with individual animals having different levels of tolerance. Oak poisoning causes gastroenteritis and kidney damage. Symptoms include: lack of appetite, staring coat, constipation followed by diarrhoea which may be bloodstained, abdominal pain depression, blood in urine There is no antidote. The horse is treated with drugs to reduce the pain and control the diarrhoea, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Oleander Nerium oleander L.	leaves and branches. Entire plant and the water used for cut plants.	affects the heart, produces severe digestive upset. Extremely poisonous, can cause death. cardiovascular system affected by the glycosides oleandrin, oleandroside and nerioside. Plant may also cause dermatitis
Onion	Onions should not be fed to dogs in any form.	Cause anemia. Sometimes Urine becomes red – enlarged kidneys degeneration of liver
Oriental lily	.	(especially poisonous to cats)
Ornamental Pepper Solanum spp	See *Nightshade*	See *Nightshade*
Paspalum	Sticky material from seeds	dermatitis
Pasque flower	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Peace lily	entire plant	gastrointestinal tract affected by plant toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis
Peach	Both the stone and leaf contain cyanide	Plant is cyanogenic
Pencil cactus	.	similar to LSD – hallucinogenic
Peruvian lily	.	May cause a skin allergy
Pineapple broom	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity.
Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum L.	entire plant (resembles a wild carrot)	nervous system affected by alkaloids including coniine, conidrine and coniceine. May contain toxic levels of nitrates. Plant also causes dermatitis
Poinsettia	leaves stems and sap	Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, delirium. Sap can cause irritation, and if rubbed in eyes - BLINDNESS. gastrointestinal tract affected by the toxin euphorbin, may contain toxic levels of nitrates. Plant also causes dermatitis
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze	Leaves, bark and fruit contain a variety of poisons.	may cause dermatitis
Poison oak	Leaves, bark and fruit contain a variety of poisons.	may cause dermatitis
Poison sumac	.	Can cause severe blistering dermatitis if they come into contact with skin.
Poisonous Primula	Toxic if eaten	Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy
Pokeroot	Toxic if eaten,	causing vomiting and nausea
Pokeweed	Toxic if eaten.	Nausea and vomiting
Poppy	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Pothos	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Precatory bean	seeds	gastrointestinal tract affected by toxalbumins
Primrose (primula)	leaves	Upset Stomach and may cause dermatitis
Ragwort Senecio jacobaea	Entire plant A common yellow flowered weed found in rough pasture and in some lawns. It is highly toxic to a wide variety of animals, especially horses and cattle, usually digested when dead as it becomes more palatable. However a number of dogs die by eating a small amount whilst grazing on long grass. If you ensure that your lawns etc are kept free of the weed, and keep a check on dog grazing, the plant is obvious so it can be done easily..	Causes kidney failure and liver damage and is irreversible. Minute doses fatal, often wrongly diagnosed. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (Budd-Chiari syndrome) in humans Note: In UK this plant is notifiable to MAFF due to its toxicity to livestock. If you have it on your land, please dig it up and dispose of it by burning. Do not leave it lying around as its toxicity increases. It must be dug up as the seeds can stay in the ground for a number of years.
Red Clover trifolium pratense)	See *Alsike Clover*	See Alsike clover Infertile problem with cattle
Red-ink plant	.	nausea and vomiting
Red Maple	.	.
Rhododendron Rhododendron spp.	entire plant	nausea, vomiting, depression, difficulty breathing and coma
Rhubarb Rheum Rhabarbarum	leaves	large amounts of raw or cooked leaves can cause convulsions, coma and in extreme cases, death
Rosary Pea Ricinus communis L.	See Castor Bean	See *Caster Bean*
Rosebay	.	nausea and vomiting
Rose periwinkle	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Rue	.	nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy
Saddle leaf philodendron	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Satin pothos	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Savin	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Schefflera	.	nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy
Senecio	.	.
Silkweed	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Silver pothos	The whole plant	causes diarrhoea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten
Solomon seal	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Spotted dumb cane	mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in	Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea – recover after three days
Spurge Flax	See *Mezereon*	*See Mezereon*
Spurge Olive	See Mezereon	See *Mezereon*
Spurge Laurel	.	nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy
Squill	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Staggerweed Senecio jacobaea	See Ragwort	See *Ragwort*
Star of Bethlehem	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Starflower	.	Harmful if eaten in quantity
Stinging nettle urtica dioica	stinging hairs release active irritant substances into skin	in very extreme cases – trembling, vomiting, difficulty in breathing and weakness
St James Wort Senecio jacobaea	See Ragwort	See *Ragwort*
St Johns Wort hypericum perforatum	Complete plant