Are Your House Plants Safe?

Houseplants add beauty and warmth to any home. But they can be hazard to homes with kids or pets. Do you know which plants in your home are dangerous if eaten by a small child or animal? If you don’t then this information is for you.

Dr. Tom Caraccio, of the Long Island Regional Poison and Drug Information Center, recommends knowing both the plants common name and scientific name. This information helps when determining whether it is poisonous. Some plants go by more then one common names as well. When buying houseplants, or choosing plants for ornamental flowerbeds, if you don’t know anything about the plant ask about it. Your local nursery or garden center should be able to tell you both names and whether or not the plant is poisonous.

Some plants are toxic while others are considered poisonous because they cause some type of irritation. Oleander, a common plant used outdoors to decorate, is deadly. One leaf can kill. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia) is a common houseplant that can cause some serious problems. It produces crystals that cause severe pain and burning in the mouth. Other toxic plants include Castor Bean, Mistletoe and Elephant Ears.

The first line of defense should be to teach your children never to put anything in their mouths unless you have given permission. When buying plants, find out which ones will irritate the skin. These you will want to keep out of touching reach. The more deadly plants you may want to simply forgo buying until you children are older.

If pets are what you are worried about, they are not as easy to train as children. This is where you will have to do a little more research. You will need to find out just how irritating the plant is and go from there. The best thing to do is to avoid keeping harmful plants around your animals.
If you think your child has ingested part of a plant that is poisonous call your local Poison Control Center. Or call the Long Island Center at 1-800-222 –1222. Be prepared with your name and number, age and weight of the child, what the symptoms are, and the identity or description of the plant.

For more information about indoor or outdoor plants and to learn which plants are considered dangerous, check out these websites:

• New York Botanical Garden –has plant information and poison control numbers, also describes reactions -
• Poisonous Houseplants
• Indoor and Outdoor Plants –covers plants dangerous to pets .
• My House Plants – this one has pictures that help in identifying common houseplants.