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Poisonous Plants
Leanne Stevenson
Miami County Agriculture Extension
Agent
Poison
Any substance which, when taken into
the system, acts injuriously, in a
manner neither thermal nor
mechanical, tending to cause death or
serious detriment to health.
In General
• More than 700 plants toxic to animals
• Economic losses
• #1 reason for calls to poison control
centers
• Chemicals in plants are natural
defense
• Best Treatment – prevention
Can you tell by looking at a
plant if it is poisonous?
NO
Suspect Plant Families
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Philodendron family (Araceae)
Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Tomato family (Solanaceae)
Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)
Levels of Poisoning
• Chronic - Over a period of time. Can
refer to prolonged or repeated
exposure to toxins or to the
progression of clinical signs.
• Acute - A rapid, severe onset of signs.
Classes of Poisons
• Poisons acting on the brain
• Poisons acting on the spinal cord
• Poisons acting on the heart
• Vegetable irritants
Houseplants
Amaryllis
• Houseplant
• Bulbs and seeds
are toxic
• Humans
• Gastrointestinal
problems vomiting,
diarrhea
Caladiums & Dieffenbachia
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Houseplant
All parts
Humans and pets
Ingestion causes
intense burning,
swelling and
irritation of the
mouth, lips and
throat
Easter Lily
• Houseplant or
ornamental
• All parts
• Humans, cats,
livestock
• Dizziness, stomach
pain, collapse, fatal
to livestock
Oleander
• Ornamental shrub
• Extremely toxic
• Livestock, pets
and humans
• Gastroenteritis,
diarrhea,
abdominal pain,
sweating and
weakness
Landscaping
Plants
Azalea, Rhododendron
• Shrub
• Entire plant
• Livestock, pets and
humans
• Nausea, vomiting,
weakness,
dizziness,
breathing difficulty,
coma
Castor bean
• Ornamental herb
• Various parts of the
plant – particularly in the
seed
• One of the three most
toxic plants
• All livestock, pets and
humans
• 6 seeds can kill a horse
• 1-2 seeds can kill a child
Delphiniums and Larkspurs
• Perennial
• Young leaves and
seeds
• Pets, humans,
cattle, and can
effect horses
• Nervous
symptoms, nausea,
depression and
even death
Foxglove
• Biennial plant
• All parts – most toxic
just before the seeds
ripen
• Cats, cattle, dogs,
goats, horses, humans
• Dizziness, vomiting,
irregular heart beat,
and delirium or
hallucinations. Can be
fatal at any time.
Lantana
• Annual flower,
warm climates
spreading shrub
• All parts are quite
toxic
• Cattle, sheep,
horses and humans
• Gastric, vomiting,
diarrhea, circulatory
collapse
Lily of the Valley
• Perennial flower
• All parts are extremely
toxic
• Humans, cats, dogs,
goats
• Nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, irregular
heartbeat and pulse,
mental confusion –
can lead to coma and
death
Red Maple
• Ornamental tree
• Leaves, especially
when fallen,
damaged, or wilted
• Horses only
• Breathing
difficulties,
jaundice, dark
brown urine, death
Rhubarb
• Garden plant
• Low, unless animals
are fed the leaves
intentionally
• Cattle, swine, sheep
and goats
• Staggering, trembling,
breathing difficulties,
weakness, diarrhea,
increased drinking and
urinating, death
Black Walnut
• Natural and
ornamental tree
• Moderately toxic,
depending upon
length of exposure
• Horses, dogs,
possibly other
animals
• Laminitis, breathing
problems,
gastroenteritis
Yew
• Ornamental Shrub
• All parts extremely
toxic, death is likely
• All animals-livestock,
pets, humans and
birds
• Sudden death is the
typical sign.
Occasionally:
breathing problems,
trembling, weakness,
heart problems,
stomach upset.
Plants in Nature
Black Locust
• Shrub or tree
• Roots, bark,
sprouts, seed pods
and/or trimmings
• Horses, cattle,
sheep, poultry and
humans
• Weakness, posterior
paralysis,
depression and loss
of appetite
Common Cocklebur
• Annual herb
• Toxin concentrated
in the seeds and
seedlings
• Vomiting and
gastrointestinal
irritation with
occasional diarrhea
• Swine mostly –
chickens and other
livestock
Hemp Dogbane
• Native perennial
• All parts- particularly
tender shoots. Can be
in hay
• Horses, cattle,
humans, sheep, cats,
dogs, goats
• Heart stimulant,
increased temperature
and pulse, pupils
dilated. Can result in
death.
Horsenettle
• Perennial, thorny herb
• Berries most toxic,
leaves to a lesser
degree
• Mostly cattle, humans,
rodents
• Sometimes sheep,
horses, goats
• Irritation of the mouth,
gastrointestinal
lesions, unthriftiness,
jaundiced mucous
membranes,
abdominal dropsy and
constipation
Jimsonweed
• Annual
• All parts, green or
dried are poisonous –
especially seeds
• Cattle, swine:primary
Horses, poultry, goats,
dogs and humans:
possible
• Cattle – .5 to 1#
• Weak, rapid pulse and
heartbeat
Milkweed
• Perennial herbs
• All parts are toxic fresh
and dried
• Cattle, sheep, goats,
horses and poultry
• 2% of body weight
• Staggering,
depression, weakness,
labored respiration and
dilated pupils
• Eventual coma and
death
Poison Hemlock
• Biennial Herb
• All parts are toxic, but
the seeds are the
worst
• Livestock, poultry and
humans
• Gastrointestinal
irritation, nervousness,
trembling, staggering,
coldness of the
extremities, slow
heartbeat and
eventually coma and
death
Pokeweed
• Perennial herb
• Young leaves often used
as cooked green
• Older leaves quite
poisonous
• Root most poisonous –
other parts contain smaller
amounts of toxins
• Cattle, horses, swine and
man
• Severe gastroenteritis w/
cramping, diarrhea and
convulsions
• Can be fatal
• Treat with gastrointestinal
protectives and sedatives
Myths & Potentially
Poisonous Plants
Poinsettia
• No part of these
holiday beauties is
toxic to either
people or pets
• Tastes extremely
bitter and could
cause stomach
upset
• The milky sap can
trigger allergic
reactions and skin
irritations.
Nitrate Toxicity
What to do…
• In case of Emergency – identify the
plant, determine how much was
eaten, and contact the poison control
center.
• Watch for adverse symptoms
• Take the plant with you to the hospital
or veterinarian.
Poison Control Centers
• For humans:
Refer to handout
• For pets:
ASPCA National Animal Poison Center
ASPCA-NAPCC
800-548-2423
Additional Resources
www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/cover1.htm
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/links.htm
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/ento/PLANT.HTM
www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html
http://texnat.tamu.edu/cmplants/toxic/index.htm
• Know whether you have plants in your
house, yard or property that are toxic.
• Know the signs of toxicity.
• Use risk management techniques to decide
what to do with your toxic plants.
• Have poison control numbers handy.