Poisonous Plants


We’re not saying you shouldn’t plant these; just consider their placement carefully.

Bushes and Trees Toxic parts
Daphne mezereum berries
Ginko fruit
Laburnum anagyorides pods and seeds
Privet berries and leaves
Prunus (peaches, apricots, plums, cherries) pits
Rhododendron all parts
Taxus (yew) seeds, needles, branches
Viburnum opulus (snowball bush) berries

Vines Toxic parts
Aristolochia durior (Dutchman’s Pipe) all parts
Wisteria sinensis, W. floribunda leaves and berries

Perennials Toxic parts
Aconitum (Monkshood) all parts
Arum maculatum (Wake Robin) A. italicum berries
Brugmansia/Datura stramonia (Angel’s Trumpet) all parts
Colchicum autumnale (Autumn Crocus) all parts
Convollaria majalis (Lily of the Valley) all parts (including water the flowers have been kept in)
Daffodil, Narcissus, Jonquil all parts
Delphinium (Larkspur) all parts
Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) foliage and seeds
Euphorbia (Snow on the Mountain) sap
Hedera helix (English Ivy) berries
Helleborus Niger (Christmas Rose) all parts
Hyacinthus bulbs
Lantana camara unripe fruit
Milkweed sap
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal) same as Lily of the Valley
Rincinus communis (Castor Bean Plant) seeds

The Nightshades Poison: solamine
Atropa belladonna (Belladonna) berries
Lycopersicon lycopersicum (tomato) green fruit (if eaten in quantity)
Solanum dulcamara (Bittersweet) unripe berries
Solanum nigrum (deadly nightshade) berries
Solanum tuberosum (potato) all parts but tubers; tubers if green

More — by family
(drawn from the Thompson & Morgan Seed Catalog)

Apocynaceae:
Catharanthus (Periwinkle) Vinca
Asclepiadaceae:
(Milkweeds)
Berberidaceae:
Berberis (Barberry) Podophylum
Boraginaceae:
Echium –also attracts bees, if anyone’s allergic

Campanulaceae:
Lobelia

Caryophyllaceae:
Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)
Arenaria (Sandwort, Scotch Moss)
Caryophyllus (Carnation)

Cornaceae:
Chamaepericlymenum

Compositae:
Doronicum (Leopard’s Bane)

Crassulaceae:
Sedum (Stonecrop)

Convolvulaceae:
Convolvulus (dwarf morning glory)
Ipomoea (morning glory)

Ericaceae:
Kalmia
Euphorbiaceae:
Euphorbia (Spurge)
Ricinus (Castor Oil Plant)
Plumeria – Frangipani
Leguminosae:
Caesalpina ( Bird of ParadiseFlower)
Cytisus (Broom)
Lathyrus (Everlasting Pea)
Lupin (Lupine)
Robinia
Sweet Peas
Ulex (Gorse)
Wisteria
Liliaceae:
Convollaria (Lily of the Valley)
Fritillaria
Gloriosa
Lilium
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal)

Linaceae:
Linum (Flax)

Papaveraceae:
Argemone (Prickly Poppy)
Glaucium (Horned Poppy)
Papaver (Poppy)

Primulaceae:
Cyclamen
Ranunculaceae:
Adonis (Pheasant’s eye)
Anemone (Wind Flower)
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Clematis
Delphinium
Helleborus (Christmas Rose)
Larkspur
Pulsatilla (Pasque Flower)
Ranunculus
Thalictrum
Rosaceae:
Chaenomeles japonica (Quince)
Solinaceae:
Datura (Angel’s Trumpet)
Nicandra (Shoo Fly Plant)
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
Solanum (Winter Cherry)
Scrophulariaceae:
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Linaria (Toad Flax)

Verbenaceae:
Lantana

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