Important information on syrup of ipecac

Know Your Plants

Indoor and outdoor plants are responsible for a rising number of accidental poisonings. Plant ingestions are among the top five causes of accidental poisonings in children younger than 5 years. Pets are also frequent victims of plant poisonings.

Did you know?



Are all herbal products safe?

Scientific studies have not been done on most herbal products. Herbal products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration for purity, potency and effectiveness. Long-term effects are rarely known. Drug interactions between herbal preparations, prescription and over-the-counter medications may occur. Use at your own risk.

Pregnant women, breast-feeding moms, infants and young children should not use herbs unless approved by a physician. Older people with serious medical conditions and those taking prescription medications should also seek approval from a physician before using herbs.


How do I prevent poisoning from plants?

Everyone should be aware of the potential danger of plants. Although most plants are poisonous because they can cause some kind of harm, only a small number of plants are actually deadly. Usually a large quantity of berries, pods, leaves, flowers or seeds must be eaten to cause symptoms. Be aware of plants treated with pesticides or fertilizers. Non-toxic plants treated with toxic chemicals become dangerous because of the chemicals. LILY

Which plants are most commonly involved
in calls to the Poison Center?

Thirty types of plants account for the majority of plant calls to California Poison Centers. They are listed below in descending order of frequency of calls. Most plant calls to the Poison Center (almost one in 10) involve an unidentified plant.

Select plant names for photos and information. New browser will link to resources of CalPhotos / Digital Library Project of the University of California Berkeley. Disclaimer and caution: many links are to general and common plant names and families -- not exact scientific names.



What are oxalate-crystals and how dangerous are the plants that contain them?

Of the calls about plants to the poison center, one in five involves plants containing oxalate crystals. Oxalate-containing plants have microscopic crystals in the juice or sap. These crystals look like tiny needles or splinters of glass. When these plants are chewed, intense mouth pain and irritation can result.

Young children with only a few teeth do not have as much of a problem with these plants as do older children or adults. When a person with a full set of teeth chews or grinds these plants, the crystals are released and pain results. Young children cannot do enough damage to the plant to cause themselves harm.


What if I don't know the name of the plant?

Remember, Poison Center staff cannot identify plants over the phone based on a description. A very common poison center call is a call asking if the shrub in the back yard that has shiny green leaves and white flowers in the spring is dangerous. The Poison Center staff always advise that the plant be taken to a reputable nursery for identification. There is time for identification. Plants are not digested quickly so immediate symptoms are rarely seen.

Some parents or caregivers either cannot or will not get the plant identified. The caregiver is then faced with making an unpleasant and risky treatment decision: wait to see if anything dangerous occurs or treat even though the plant might be non-toxic. Statistics show that one out of ten plant ingestions in California involves a plant that is never identified.


What plants are dangerous?

The following is a list of plants that can be highly toxic:

Most of the preceding toxic plants grow outdoors.

If you have curious children and pets that chew, do not plant these potentially dangerous plants in your yard. If these plants are already in your garden or on your property, consider removing them or fencing them. If neither is an option, do not leave children or pets unsupervised in those areas. Remember, it takes only the second you turn your back for a poisoning to occur.


Can pets get poisoned from plants?

As a general rule, plants that are listed as toxic to humans should also be considered toxic to animals. There are a few cases of plants considered non-toxic or mildly toxic to humans causing problems to animals.

Dogs: Onion, Garlic, Heavenly bamboo, Schefflera, Dracaena
Cats: Calla Easter lily, Philodendron, Pothos, Scindapus
Birds: Avocado


What to do for a plant poisoning






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Disclaimer: This web site is designed to be informational and educational. Under no circumstance is this web site meant to replace the expert advice of a qualified poison specialist or physician. In the event of a poison emergency, call the nearest poison center immediately -dial, 1-800-222-1222 or contact 9-1-1 emergency services if the person who is poisoned cannot wake up, has a hard time breathing, or has convulsions.