House Plants You Didn't Know Were Poisonous

 Common House Plants 

There are hundreds of beautiful houseplants you can grow, but some contain chemicals that can have unpleasant—even deadly—effects. Toxic houseplants can cause skin irritation, stomach upsets, and burning of the mouth and throat. Some plants are more toxic than others, and the good news is that most need to be ingested in large quantities to cause real damage. However, if you have curious children and pets who like to chew or crush the plants, avoid growing these varieties or take special care to keep them in a safe place out of their reach.

1. Dumb cane

Dieffenbachia selections thrive in low light and add a tropical look to the decor. It earned one of its common names, dumb cane, because of the symptoms it causes when it eats. The juice burns and swells the tongue, which is enough to prevent air from entering the throat. It can be dangerous to both humans and pets if ingested in large quantities. There are plenty of stylish stands available in stores that keep this plant off the ground and away from crawling children and small dogs.

2. English ivy

These plants are the perfect vine to draw from a bookshelf or indoor container garden. Large amounts of English ivy need to be ingested to cause serious problems, but all parts of the plant can cause symptoms such as skin irritation, burning throat (after eating the berries), fever, and rash. As ivy recedes, set up high off the ground out of reach of children and pets.

3. Easter Lily

The scent of this flower is unmistakable and the pure white flowers are eye-catching. Although they are cute, cats have been known to become seriously ill after eating Easter lilies. If not treated by a veterinarian within 18 hours, ingestion of even small amounts of any part of the plant can lead to death in a cat from kidney failure. Pollen is also toxic to cats, so it's a smart idea to remove the yellow anthers as soon as the flowers open to prevent your pet from being exposed to the pollen. This plant is not poisonous to children.

4. Peace Lily

A popular low-light houseplant, the peace lily is toxic only if large amounts of leaves are eaten. If you have pets or small children, enjoy the dark green leaves and white flowers from a distance. As it ages, the peace lily's green foliage deepens in color.

5. Daffodils

If you plan to force bulbs indoors, you should be aware that forcing indoor flowers can be toxic if eaten by humans or pets. Eating the bulbs (which can be mistaken for onions or shallots) can cause serious stomach problems, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and even death. Be sure to keep daffodils on a counter or shelf where they won't be disturbed, or try growing them in the landscape.

6. Philodendron

No other plant group is as widely used indoors as philodendrons, but they are poisonous to humans and pets. Eating them can cause burning and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat along with vomiting and diarrhea. Like ivy, philodendrons have a trailing habit, so keep them well off the ground.