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Plants to Avoid in Early Years Environments
Philodendron
 One of the most popular house plants. It
contains calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic to
humans and animals.
 The philodendron may be vining or non-vining. It is very
important to keep vining plants hung well out of reach of
children, and to keep tendrils and leaves trimmed. Nonvining plants should be kept on high window sill or
shelves.
Dangers: Ingesting philodendron usually has only mild side
effects; including dermatitis reaction and swelling of the mouth and digestive tract. In
rare cases, or after ingesting large amounts, there have been fatalities in children.
Pothos
Pothos Ivy, also called "Devil's Ivy", is cited as one of the best plants for removing
impurities from the air.
It is also easy to propagate from cuttings. Because of this, many people receive
these as starter plants or housewarming gifts. They then go on to have several
plants rooted from the parent plant.
Pothos is considered to be only mildly harmful in small quantities, but can produce
uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects in people.
Dangers: May cause burning of the mouth, skin irritation, swelling of lips, tongue
and throat, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Arrowhead Plant
This plant is also related to the philodendron and is very
easy to care for. Young plants appear bushy with heartshaped leaves. Older plants produce climbing stems and
arrow-head shaped leaves.
The leaves are constantly shedding and being re-grown,
so even if this plant is out of reach, it is a good idea to
check often for fallen leaves
Dangers: May cause skin irritant, stomach upset, vomiting
Lily
Few flowers are as beautiful as lilies. From the elegant curved bloom of the Calla lily
to the seasonal favourite, the Easter lily; these colourful plants are popular indoors
and out.
Not all lilies are toxic, and some are more toxic to animals, especially cats, than to
humans. If you are aren't certain what type of lily you have, err on the side of caution
and keep lilies either out of reach indoors, or planted away from play areas outdoors.
The more toxic varieties include:
 Calla Lily ( which can be fatal to children)
 Easter Lily

Rubrum Lily

Tiger Lily

Day Lily

Asian Lily
Different lilies will produce different symptoms in pets or
humans. Cats are more susceptible to lily poisoning than dogs.
Dangers: May include stomach upset, vomiting, headache, blurred vision and skin
irritation.
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum is not a member of the liliaceae family, and
therefore not a true lily. There are many varieties of Peace Lily,
with the "Mauna Loa" lily being one of the most common indoor
ornamentals.
It is an evergreen perennial from South America, with glossy
leaves and a unique white bloom that rises from a central stalk.
They are shade-loving plants which make them ideal for
apartments and rooms with little sunlight.
They are also excellent air purifiers. Like philodendrons and
pothos, however, they can cause painful symptoms and sometimes death if ingested
by humans or animals.
Dangers: May include burning and swelling of lips, mouth, and tongue, difficulty
speaking or swallowing, vomiting nausea and diarrhoea.
Dieffenbachia
Also called "dumb cane". This plant is related to the
Philodendron, and contains the same oxalate crystals.
Dieffenbachia has thick stems and fleshy leaves that are
usually solid green, with the occasional yellow or green
markings.
Dumb Cane is more likely to be ingested since the large
plants are usually kept in pots on the floor or low
pedestals. Unlike Philodendron, Dieffenbachia ingestion usually produces only mild
to moderate symptoms in both humans and pets.
Dangers: extreme pain in the mouth, salivation, burning sensation, swelling and
numbing of the throat.
Oleander
Nerium oleander looks delicate and innocent, but is so toxic that even ingesting
honey made from its nectar can produce symptoms.
Deaths in adult humans have been reported with as little as
one leaf eaten, but the majority of deaths occur when very
large amounts are ingested. Children are more susceptible,
and should be kept away from Oleander plants.
Dangers: arrhythmia, dizziness, tremors.
Caladium
Caladiums are also commonly known by the names
"Elephant's Ears" and "Angel's Wings".
All parts of the caldadium are considered toxic to
humans and animals.
Dangers: painful burning and swelling of the mouth, tongue,
lips and throat, difficulty breathing, speaking, and swallowing,
and possible blocked airways that can lead to death.
Mother-in-Law's Tongue
Mother-in-Law's tongue, or snake plant, has leathery, swordlike leaves that earned the plant its sharp name. The foliage is a
mottled or variegated green, with hints of white, yellow, and
silver.
Dangers: The toxicity level is low, producing short-lasting
symptoms such as mouth pain, salivation and some nausea. In
rare instances, it can produce a dermatological reaction, but is
mainly toxic only if ingested.
Ivy
Ivy is not only beautiful and a traditional indoor plant, it is also removes airborne
fecal-matter particles from the air.
Dangers: Ivy can cause severe skin irritation.
Ingestion can cause burning in the mouth and
throat, stupor, convulsions, fever and rash.
Usually symptoms are only severe if large
amounts of the plant are eaten.