A surprising number of houseplants are poisonous to people and even more are poisonous to pets. Well, I suppose the word “surprising” isn’t all that appropriate, because there are, in fact, hundreds of poisonous plants in our outdoor environment as well. In fact, no matter where you live, you are probably surrounded by poisonous plants. Yes, they’re that common!
Even many plants with edible parts have poisonous organs: you wouldn’t want to eat anything but fruit from cherry and apple trees, for example, and everything on potato plants is poisonous except the tubers. You really shouldn’t eat any plant (nor feed them to others, especially children) unless you know they are edible.
Which Plants Make the List
Determining which plants are poisonous actually turns out to be very difficult. It would simply be unethical to experiment and give plant leaves, stems, fruits, etc. to humans to test their toxicity and although some testing is done with rats, mice and guinea pigs, the results don’t necessarily apply to other species.
What little specialists know about plant toxicity generally has to be derived from actual accidental poisonings. Yet one human might react to plant X and another not. Notably, young children and small pets could be affected by smaller amounts of toxin than an adult or large pet. And even when there is an apparent reaction to a plant, it might not be due to any toxic property of the plant, but to other factors. The “poison” could have come from bacteria, fungus or insect ingested along with the plant, for example, or the reaction could be psychosomatic (people who think they have ingested a poisonous plant often come down with some pretty dramatic symptoms!). Also, some plants can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals, both humans and pets, but that doesn’t mean they are poisonous.
Also, there are many, many plants—some listed below just to be safe—that will only be toxic if a large quantity is consumed. That’s why, for example, I’ve included spinach on the list of poisonous plants, even though you’d have to consume quite a lot of it to make yourself ill. Another example: begonia flowers are generally considered safe to eat as long as you consume no more than a few cupfuls at one time, but can be toxic if consumed in large quantities.
Other plants are listed as poisonous largely due to family connections. For example, most toxicologists automatically list all euphorbias (Euphorbia spp.) as toxic, since most have toxic sap … and testing all 5,000 species would be incredibly complicated. Yet there are plenty of exceptions in the genus, including species that are not only nontoxic, but even edible (Euphorbia edulis, for example). Another is the poinsettia (E. pulcherrima), which has only mildly irritating sap and isn’t really toxic to humans, although it is slightly toxic to cats and dogs. Plants in other families, like the Apocynaceae (dogbane family) and the Araceae (phildendron family), are also routinely listed as toxic whether there is any proof or not. For example, Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei), an Apocynaceae, seems to be considered toxic by just about all sources and is so listed here, yet I can find no proof whatsoever that it really is.
And then you have plants associated with known cases of poisoning for which toxicologists have never been able to find the poison involved: lantana (Lantana camara), for example.
The result of all the above is that deciding whether a plant is poisonous or not can be very anecdotal and toxicologists often emit contradictory statements. I used various Web sites and reference books in preparing the list that follows … and they didn’t always agree. In case of doubt, I went with Poisonous Plants, A Handbook for Doctors, Pharmacists, Toxicologists, Biologists and Veterinarians, Second Edition, by Dietrich Frohne and Hans Jürgen Pfänder, Timber Press, Portand, Oregon, 2005.
You Can Touch, But Not Ingest
The vast majority of plants listed here are only poisonous if consumed, although a few have sap that can irritate the skin. Still, it’s best not to rub the sap of any poisonous plant on your skin nor get it in your eyes, just in case! And when you prune a potentially poisonous plant, wear gloves.
People Versus Pets
You’ll notice that, on the list below, there are more plants toxic to pets than to humans. People are very good at digesting complex proteins and alkaloids that can poison dogs, cats, birds, etc. and when we do become poisoned, we usually recover. That’s because we are omnivores and have had millions of years of practice eating just about everything that surrounds us. Cats, on the opposite end of the spectrum, are especially susceptible to toxic plants, more so than dogs, for example. Their highly carnivorous nature means they’re poor at digesting plant materials.
Never feed “people food” to pets: you just never know. Several herbs and fruits humans consume without difficulty are notably toxic to cats and, sometimes, to dogs: mint, parsley, lemon grass, avocados, citrus, grapes, etc.
Which Plants Don’t Make the List
Prickly Plants
Note that I didn’t include plants whose “people problem” is spininess on the list of poisonous plants, even though they can be dangerous for humans and pets for obvious reasons. There are plenty of spiny plants that are actually quite edible once the thorns are removed. Just keep all spiny, prickly plants out of reach of pets and small children, poisonous or not.
Unpalatable Plants
Just because a plant isn’t poisonous per se doesn’t mean it’s edible. There are plenty of non-toxic plants that are simply not good to eat, being either difficult to digest, bitter, unpalatable or simply of no interest to anybody’s taste buds. Among houseplants, African violets, hoyas, peperomias and most ferns fall into the edible but unpalatable category.
Mushrooms
No mushrooms are included on the list below: they simply aren’t plants, plus they’re rarely grown indoors, at least, not on purpose
Plants Sprayed With Pesticides
A perfectly edible plant can be sprayed with a toxic pesticide, making it toxic in its turn, but that’s outside the scope of this article. For example, ornamental peppers (Capsicum ssp.) sold in nurseries are sometimes labeled “not for human consumption,” leading buyers to presume they are toxic. They aren’t (at least not to humans), but are so labeled because they were sprayed with potentially toxic pesticides.
Keep Just About Everything Out of Reach!
Plants are far from being a common source of poisonings in the home: in fact, they’re in about ninth position. Even when ingested, they’re more likely to make humans feel ill than to kill anyone. Medications, cleaning products, alcohol and pesticides cause far more poisonings and deaths than plants, but that still doesn’t mean that precautions shouldn’t be taken. The basic rule should always be to place plants out of reach of children and pets unless you know they are harmless… and you don’t mind them being damaged! (Read Cats and Houseplants: Not Always a Good Mix for suggestions on keeping plants out of the reach of cats.)
Although plants rarely cause poisoning, they’re often suspected of causing poisoning. In fact, consumption of plants is the third most common reason people contact Poison Control Centers.
Poisonous Plants
The list that follows is a compendium of plants commonly grown indoors that are usually considered to be poisonous.
*Indicates minor toxicity. Still, contact a Poison Control Center or a doctor in case of ingestion.
Plant Poisonous Part Keep Away From
- Adromischus (Adromischus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- African boxwood (Myrsine africana)* Stems and leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Agave (Agave)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
The toxic part of a medicinal aloe leaf is the yellow sap found just inside the outer green rind. The transparent gel in the center can be used safely. Source: usaloe.com - Aloe, medicinal (Aloe vera)* Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Anthurium (Anthurium) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Aralia, Balfour (Polyscias)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Aralia, Ming (Polyscias)* All parts raw (edible cooked) Humans, cats, dogs
- Arrowhead plant (Syngonium) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Aucuba, Japanese (Aucuba)* All parts, especially berries Humans, cats, dogs
The avocado is safe for human, but toxic to pets. Source: M.t.lifshits - Avocado (Persea americana) Leaves, stems, pit Cats
- Azalea (Rhododendron) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Bamboo, heavenly (Nandina) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Bamboo, lucky (Dracaena) All parts Cats, dogs
- Bay leaf, bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) Leaves Cats, dogs
- Begonia (Begonia)* Tubers, rhizomes, sometimes flowers or leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Bird of paradise (Strelitzia) Leaves, flowers, seeds Cats, dogs
- Blindness tree (Excoecaria cochinchinensis) All parts, including sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Blue chalk sticks (Senecio)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Bottle tree (Brachychiton)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea) Sap, thorns Humans, cats, dogs
- Bow string hemp (Sansevieria)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Boxwood (Buxus) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Beautifully scented, brugmansia is nevertheless highly toxic. Source: Rob Hille - Brugmansia (Brugmansia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Bushman’s poison (Acokanthera) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Butterfly weed (Asclepias)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Cabbage tree, cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) All parts Cats, dogs
- Cactus (a few species, like Lophophora williamsii) Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Caladium (Caladium)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Calla lily (Zantedeschia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Calomondin orange (× CItrofortunella microcarpa) All parts including fruit Cats, dogs
- Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphorum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Castor bean (Ricinus communis) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Century plant (Agave)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Cestrum (Cestrum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Chenille plant (Acalypha)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Young children could easily mistake Jerusalem cherry fruits for candies. Source: Paul Venter - Cherry, Jerusalem (Solanum pseudocapsicum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Cineraria (Senecio, Pericallis)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Citrus (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Clematis (Clematis)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Clementine (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Clivia (Clivia)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Coffee plant (Coffea arabica)* All parts except mature fruit Humans, cats, dogs
- Colchicum (Colchicum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Copperleaf (Acalypha)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Coral plant (Jatropha)* All parts, especially seeds Humans, cats, dogs
- Coral tree (Erythrina) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) All parts Cats, dogs
- Cotyledon (Cotyledon)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Crassula (Crassula)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Crinum (Crinum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
The croton’s colorful leaves are also a bit toxic. Source: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons - Croton (Codiaeum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Croton, Chinese (Excoecaria cochinchinensis) All parts, including sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Crown of thorns (Euphorbia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Cyclamen (Cyclamen)* All parts, especially corm Humans, cats, dogs
- Cypripedium (Cypripedium)* Leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Daffodil (Narcissus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Daffodil, Peruvian (Hymenocallis)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Dahlia (Dahlia) All parts Cats, dogs
- Daisy, Paris (Argyranthemum)* Leaves, stems Humans, cats, dogs
- Datura (Datura) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Devil’s backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides, formerly Pedilanthus tithymaloides) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
The dieffenbachia is well know to have toxic sap. Source: Jerzy Opiola - Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Dipladenia (Mandevilla)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Dracaena (Dracaena) All parts Cats, dogs
- Dragon tree (Dracaena) All parts Cats, dogs
- Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Duranta (Duranta spp.) Leaves, berries Humans, cats, dogs
- Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Elephant’s ear (Alocasia) Leaves, stems, roots Humans, cats, dogs
- Elephant’s ear (Colocasia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Elephant’s ear (Xanthosoma) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Euonymus (Euonymus sap.)* All parts, especially berries Humans, cats, dogs
- Euphorbia (Euphorbia, most species) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Fern, asparagus (Asparagus) All parts, especially berries Humans, cats, dogs
- Fiber-optic plant (Isolepis cernua, syn. Scirpus cernuus)* Young shoots Humans, cats, dogs
There are many species of indoor fig, including this Ficus mclellandii ‘Alii’. All have somewhat toxic sap than can cause skin irritation. Source: execuflora.co.za - Ficus (Ficus) Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Fig (Ficus) Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Gardenia (Gardenia) All parts Cats, dogs
- Geranium (Pelargonium) All parts Cats, dogs
- Golden dewdrops (Duranta spp.) Leaves, berries Humans, cats, dogs
- Golden trumpet vine (Allamanda cathartica)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Grape vine (Vitis) Fruit Cats, dogs
- Grapefruit (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Heather (Calluna, Erica) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Heather, false (Cuphea hyssopifolia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Heliotrope (Heliotropium) Seeds Humans, cats, dogs
- Holly (Ilex)* Berries Humans, cats, dogs
- Homalomena (Homalomena)* All parts Cats, dogs
- Hortensia (Hydrangea) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Hyacinth (Hyacinthus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Ismene, Peruvian daffodil (Hymenocallis)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Ivy (Hedera) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Ivy, Cape (Senecio macroglossus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
English ivy (Hedera helix) is a popular trailing houseplant that is toxic in all its parts. Source: giftshops.via-christi.org - Ivy, English (Hedera helix) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Ivy, German (Senecio mikanioides)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Ivy, ground (Glechoma hederacea)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Jade plant (Crassula)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Jessamine, Carolina (Gelsemium sempervirens) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Jessamine, night-blooming (Cestrum)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Jonquil (Narcissus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Juniper (Juniperus)* Leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lantana (Lantana) All parts, especially unripe berries Humans, cats, dogs
- Lavender (Lavandula) All parts Cats, dogs
- Lemon (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
Lemon grass is edible for humans, toxic for cats and dogs. Source: amazon.com - Lemon grass (Cymbopogon) All parts Cats, dogs
- Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) All parts Cats, dogs
- Lily (Lilium) All parts Cats
- Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, Aztec (Sprekelia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, blood (Haemanthus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, calla (Zantedeschia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, Easter (Lilium longiflorum) All parts Cats
- Lily, glory (Gloriosa) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, Guernsey (Nerine)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, impala (Adenium obesum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, Inca (Alstroemeria)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, Nile, lily of the Nile (Agapanthus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, peace (Spathiphyllum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lily, spider (Hymenocallis)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Lime (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Mandarin orange (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Mandevilla (Mandevilla)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Chewing on cannabis leaves dans make pets and young children very ill. Source: www.leafly.com - Marijuana (Cannabis)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Milk bush, African (Euphorbia umbellata, syn. Synadenium grantii) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Mint (Mentha)* All parts Cats, dogs
- Mint, Mexican (Plectranthus amboinicus) All parts Cats, dogs
- Mistletoe (Viscum, Phoradendron) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Monadenium (Monadenium) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Morning glory (Ipomoea, most species) All parts Cats, dogs
- Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea, formerly Rhoeo spathacea)* Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Myrtle (Myrtus communis)* Leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Narcissus (Narcissus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Ripe fruits of Natal plum are edible; all other parts are toxic. Source: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons - Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) Leaves, flowers, unripe fruit Humans, cats, dogs
- Nightshade (Solanum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) All parts Cats, dogs
- Oleander (Nerium) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Oleander, yellow (Thevetia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Orange (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Oregano, Cuban (Plectranthus amboinicus) All parts Cats, dogs
- Oxalis (Oxalis)* All parts Cats, dogs
- Palm, cardboard (Zamia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Palm, fishtail (Caryota)* All parts, especially fruits Humans, cats, dogs
- Palm, Madagascar (Pachypodium) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Properly prepared, sago is a staple food in some countries, but raw, all the parts of the so-called sago palm are toxic. Source: www.exotenherz.de - Palm, sago (Cycas revoluta) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Pandanus (Pandanus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Paperwhite (Narcissus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)* All parts Cats, dogs
- Pélargonium (Pelargonium) All parts Cats, dogs
- Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Pepper, ornamental (Capsicum) Fruits Cats, dogs
- Philodendron (Philodendron) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Philodendron, split-leaf (Monstera) Leaves, stem, unripe fruit Humans, cats, dogs
- Pine, Buddhist (Podocarpus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Pineapple (Ananas)* Sap, unripe fruit Humans, cats, dogs
- Plumbago, Cape (Plumbago auricula)* Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Plumeria (Plumeria) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Podocarpus (Podocarpus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
The poinsettia is harmless to people, but its sap is somewhat toxic to pets. Source: growerdirect.com - Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)* Sap Cats, dogs
- Pothos (Epipremnum, Scindapsus) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Powder puff tree (Calliandra) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Pregnant onion (Albuca bracteata, formerly Ornithogalum caudatum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Primrose (Primula) Leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Ribbon plant (Dracaena) All parts Cats, dogs
- Rose, Christmas (Helleborus) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Rose, desert (Adenium obesum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Rose, Lenten (Helleborus) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)* Sap Humans, cats, dogs
- Rush (Juncus effusus)* Young shoots Humans, cats, dogs
- Schefflera (Schefflera)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Sedums (here, Sedum rubrotinctum) are complicated when it comes to toxicity. Some are slightly toxic, others not at all. Still, it’s best to keep them away from small children and pets. Source: JJ Harrison, Wikimedia Commons - Sedum (Sedum, some species)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Senecio (Senecio, succulent species)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica)* All parts Cats, dogs
- Shamrock plant (Oxalis)* All parts Cats, dogs
- Silk oak (Grevillea)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Snake plant (Sansevieria)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Spiderwort (Tradescantia)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)* Leaves Humans, cats, dogs
- Squill, Peruvian (Scilla peruviana) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Squill, silver (Ledbouria socialis) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum, some species) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- String-of-beads (Senecio rowleyanus)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Tangerines and other citrus are somewhat toxic to dogs, more seriously so to cats. This includes not only fruit, but leaves, stems, flowers, etc. Source: shopping.rediff.com - Tangerine (Citrus)* All parts, including fruit Cats, dogs
- Taro (Calocasia) All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Thyme, Spanish (Plectranthus amboinicus) All parts Cats, dogs
- Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa, syn. C. terminalis) All parts Cats, dogs
- Tulip (Tulipa)* Uncooked bulbs Humans, cats, dogs
- Tylecodon (Tylecodon)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Umbrella tree (Schefflera)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Wandering jew (Tradescantia)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
- Yesterday, today and tomorrow (Brunfelsia) All parts Dogs
- Yucca (Yucca)* All parts except flowers (safe for humans) Humans, cats, dogs
- ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)* All parts Humans, cats, dogs
Safe Houseplants
The above list can appear pretty scary, but if you read the text from the beginning, you’ll understand that poisonings due to plants are very rare indeed. Even so, if you want to take no chances, here is a list of houseplants you can safely grow even when you have small children, cats and dogs: Nontoxic Houselants for Kids, Cats and Dogs.
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Hi there,
I’m trying to find if the herb hyssop is poisonous to dogs- I can’t seem to find this anywhere. I know there is a plant called false heather (cuphea hyssopifolia) that is toxic but I can’t find anything about the herb hyssop. I’d be really grateful for any guidance anyone can give me. Thanks- Vanessa.
There are two herbs called hyssop. True hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) and anise hyssop (Agastache). Neither is toxic to dogs.
Is Tradescantia spathacea ‘Tricolor’ poisonous to cats?
It’s actually on the list under a common name. See #136.
Well that’s kinda my point–it’s listed here as poisonous to dogs and cats, but all I can find is it can be toxic to some livestock. I guess in the interest of being cautious it certainly doesn’t hurt to include it, but I can’t find anything definitive saying it’s actually poisonous to dogs or cats.
You probably won’t! No one tests potentially poisonous plants on pets. Toxicologists study reports that come in and decide whether the information justifies calling a plant poisonous and, if so, for which plants. Serious toxicologists have looked at this plant and declared it likely poisonous to pets and humans under the general “better safe than sorry” policy, but without, as far as I can tell, any actual proof. I write about this situation here: https://laidbackgardener.blog/2020/01/20/poisonous-plants-guilty-until-proven-innocent/
I’m just not finding anything about Mimosa pudica’s toxicity. Any links to research or similar?
It’s not likely to cause poisoning, as it is not attractive to people o most animals, but yes, it is poisonous. Info here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/mimosa-pudica
It causes alopecia in horses, cattle, sheep and goats.
True, but as a houseplant (subject of this article), it’s rarely a big problem.
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ming aralia is listed as edible.
so are several others listed here.
you should go through this list again.
This is one of the complicated situations where a plant is poisonous raw, but edible cooked. For the purposes of this article, which is about houseplants, not cooking, I felt it was safest to include plants that are poisonous raw on the list.
Hi Laidback Gardener, I am so confused about some of the plants (from non-toxic to toxic) on these list. Especially the mimosa pudica and wandering Jew. There seems to be info on Google that those are cat/dog safe. Are those the same as the sedum, where some are a little toxic or not toxic at all?
The toxic possibilities of plants are often confusing. That’s because it isn’t ethical to actually test potentially poisonous plants by feeding them to plants. Toxicologists have to wait for incidents of accidental poisoning to occur and sometimes that information that comes in is iffy.
I’d say that Mimosa pudica is almost certainly poisonous to pets: it has known toxic properties. The wandering jew is much more iffy. There are a few reports it is toxic to cats and some claim the leaves are safe but the stems aren’t. However, there are many plants known as wandering jew and some may be poisonous while others are not. I’d suggest not taking a chance.
Hey! Thank you so much for the reply. That makes a lot of sense to me. I’ll pass on those plants then. There are so many others that are just as beautiful or even more so. Also, thank you so much for the list (both toxic and non-toxic), it’s been a tremendous help while indoor plant shopping.
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I think you have a money making option here – an app for their smart phone that reminds people not to eat their house plants. 🙂