Common Poisonous Plants
(Reprint of list from Parkway Veterinary Clinic - Canton, MI.)
TOXIC PART
SYMPTOMS
PLANT
Hyacinth                                                                                                                    Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Narcissus                                                                Bulbs                                                     May be fatal.
Daffodil

Oleander                                                       Leaves, branches                      Extremely poisonous. Affects the
                                                                                                                              heart, produces severe digestive
                                                                                                                                  upset, and has caused death.

Poinsettia                                                               Leaves                                       Fatal. One leaf can kill a child.

Dieffenbachia
(Dumb Cane)                                                        All parts                             Intense burning and irritation of the
Elephant Ear                                                                                                          mouth and tongue. Death can
                                                                                                                               occur if the base of the tongue
                                                                                                                                   swells enough to block air             
                                                                                                                                          passage of the throat.

Rosary Pea                                                            Seeds                                Fatal. A single rosary pea seed has
Castor Bean                                                                                                           caused death. One - two castor
                                                                                                                                 seeds are near the lethal dose        
                                                                                                                                                        for adults.

Mistletoe                                                                Berries                              Fatal. Both children and adults have
                                                                                                                                  died from eating the berries.
FLOWER GARDEN PLANTS

Larkspur                                                            Young plant                      Digestive upset, nervous excitement,
                                                                                                                                  depression. May be fatal.

Monkshood                                                      Fleshy roots                      Digestive upset, nervous excitement.

Autumn Crocus                                                    Bulbs                                Vomiting and nervous excitement.
Star of Bethlehem

Lily of the Valley                                           Leaves, flowers                 Irregular heartbeat and pulse, usually
                                                                                                                       accompanied by digestive upset and
                                                                                                                                         mental confusion.

Iris                                                                       Underground                                Severe, but usually not serious
                                                                                 Stems                                                  digestive upset.

Fox-glove                                                               All parts                        One of the sources of the drug
                                                                                                                       "Digitalis" used to stimulate the heart.
                                                                                                                         In large amounts, the active principle
                                                                                                                           causes dangerously irregular heart-
                                                                                                                              beat and pulse, usually digestive
                                                                                                                           upset and mental confusion. May be
                                                                                                                                                             fatal.

Bleeding Heart                                                 Foliage, roots                  May be poisonous in large amounts.
(Dutchman's Britches)                                                                                     Has been proven fatal in cattle.

VEGETABLE GARDEN PLANTS

Rhubarb                                                               Leaf blade                     Fatal. Large amounts of raw or cooked
                                                                                                                       leaves can cause convulsions, coma,
                                                                                                                                   followed rapidly by death.

ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

Daphne                                                                    Berries                               Fatal. A few berries can kill a child.

Wisteria                                                                Seeds, pods                       Mild to severe digestive upset. Many
                                                                                                                           children are poisoned by this plant.

Golden Chain                                                Bean like capsules                   Severe poisoning. Excitement,
                                                                       in which seeds are                                     staggering.
                                                                               suspended

Laurels                                                                                                            Fatal. Produces nausea and vomiting,
Rhododendron                                                      All parts                               depression, difficult breathig,
Azaleas                                                                                                                          prostration and coma.
                                                                                                                                                                                
Jessamine                                                                Berries                               Fatal. Digestive disturbance and
                                                                                                                                            nervous symptons.

Lantana camera                                                 Greenberries                Fatal. Affects the lungs, kidneys, heart,
                                                                                                                         and nervous system. Grows in the
                                                                                                                             Southern U.S. and in moderate
                                                                                                                                                  climates.

Oaks                                                                    Foliage, acorns                Affects kidneys gradually. Symptons
                                                                                                                            appear only after several days or
                                                                                                                           or weeks. Takes a large amount for
                                                                                                                            poisoning. Children should not be
                                                                                                                                   allowed to chew on acorns.

Elderberry                                                     Shoots, leaves, bark         Children have been poisoned by using
                                                                                                                           pieces of  pithy stems for blowguns.
                                                                                                                                    Nausea and digestive upset.

Black Locust                                             Bark, sprouts, foliage     Children have suffered nausea,weakness
                                                                                                                     and depression after chewing the bark
                                                                                                                                                 and seeds.
PLANTS IN WOODED AREAS

Jack-in-the-Pulpit                                                  All parts                   Like dumb-cane, contains small needle
                                                                        especially roots                   like crystals of calcium oxalate that
                                                                                                                        cause intense burning and irritation
                                                                                                                                  of the mouth and tongue.

Moonseed                                                              Berries                  Blue-purple color, resembling wild grapes.
                                                                                                                       Contains a single seed. May be fatal.

Mayapple                                                          Apple, foliage,           Contains at least 16 active toxic principles
                                                                                  roots                       primarily in the roots. Children often eat    
                                                                                                                     the apple with no ill effects, but several
                                                                                                                                 apples may cause diarrhea.

PLANTS IN SWAMPS OR MOIST AREAS

Water Hemlock                                                    All Parts                    Fatal. Violent and painful convulsions. A
                                                                                                              number of people have died from hemlock

PLANTS IN FIELDS

Buttercups                                                           All parts                          Irritant juices may severely injure the
                                                                                                                                      the digestive system.

Nightshade                                              All parts - especially                  Fatal. Intense digestive disturbances
                                                                        unripe berries                                      and nervous symptons.

Poison Hemlock                                                 All parts                   Fatal. Resembles a large wild carrot. Used
                                                                                                                           ancient Greece to kill condemned
                                                                                                                                                prisoners.

Jimson Weed                                                      All parts                     Abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium,
(Thorn Apple)                                                                                            incoherence and coma. Common cause
                                                                                                                            of poisoning. Has proven fatal.