Poisonous House Plants

Houseplants can be very beneficial in our lives. They purify and renew our stale indoor air by filtering out toxins, pollutants and the carbon dioxide we exhale - replacing them with life sustaining oxygen! However, many of our most popular houseplants come from tropical climates where the highest percentage of poisonous plants reside. If you have any of the houseplants listed below you should find out how toxic they are, and if the risk they pose to your children or pets is worth keeping them.

Aloe barbadensis Aloe Vera, Burn plant
Amaryllis sp. Amaryllis
Anthurium andraeanum Flamingo lily
Caladium hortulanum Angels' wings
Chrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemums, Mums
Clivia miniata Kaffir Lily
Codiaeum variegatum Croton
Cyclamen persicum Cyclamen
Datura innoxia Angel's Trumpet
Dieffenbachia sp. Dumb cane
Euphorbia milii Crown-of-thorns
Euphorbia pulcherrima Poinsettia (yes, it belongs here)
Hedera helix English Ivy
Hydrangea macrophylla Hydrangea
Kalanchoe daigremontiana Devil's Backbone
Monstera deliciosa Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant
Philodendron sp. Heart leaf philodendron, Philodendron
Rhododendron sp. Azalea
Solanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem Cherry

These pages are by no means comprehensive in their coverage. If your house plant is not listed here please consult the
Canadian Poisonuous Plants Information System
by Derek B. Munro
Biological Resources Program
Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre
Research Branch Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C6

At this database you can can also search for common garden and outdoor plants that are not only a threat to people but to pets and livestock as well.

Poisonous House Plants
Air Cleaning House Plants
Introduction