Poisonous Plants

Common Poisonous Plants of Florida

Below is a partial list of common poisonous plants in Florida. This is not a complete list. Just because something does not appear on this list does not mean it is safe to eat. Do not eat any plant or fungus unless you are absolutely sure it is safe to eat.

Recommended First Aid Steps:

1. Remove all plant pieces from mouth.
2. Rinse mouth and lips with cool water.
3. Offer sips of water to drink.
4. Wash hands with soap and water.
5. If telephone service is available, call the Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222 or dial 9-1-1.

Plant Group [by poison type]	Plant Common Name	Location	Description and Symptoms
Oxalate Pictured: Arrowhead	Arrowhead, Dieffenbachia, Caladium, Philodendron, Peace Lily, Pothos	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	Contain oxalate crystals in their stems, roots and leaves. Needlelike crystals cause immediate pain, burning and irritation in the lips, mouth and throat. Can cause slurred speech.
Cardiac Glycoside Pictured: Oleander	Oleander, Lily of the Valley, Foxglove	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	All parts, especially oleander, are poisonous. Some skin irritation is possible through contact, most poisonings occur by eating or chewing the plant, or by breathing in smoke from burning plants. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, dizziness, low blood pressure, slow heart rate and seizures.
Toxalbumin, Ricin Pictured: Rosary Pea	Castor Beans, Rosary Pea	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	Ingestion, specifically when chewed or split open, can cause severe symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, burning/corroding the esophagus, shock, multi-organ failure (liver, kidneys, respiratory failure)
Colchicine Pictured: Glory Lily	Glory Lily, Autumn crocus	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	Ingestion can cause severe symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, shock, multi-organ failure (liver, kidneys, respiratory failure)
Triterpenoid Pictured: Common Lantana	Common Lantana, Chinaberry	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	All parts can be poisonous and can cause skin irritation. However, the berries are most poisonous and, if eaten, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, seizures and shallow or difficult breathing.
Gastro-Intestinal Pictured: Poinsettia	Croton, Poinsettia, American Holly	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	All parts can cause skin irritation and/or rash from milky sap inside. If eaten in quantity, symptoms include nausea and/or diarrhea.
Anti cholinergic Pictured: Angel's Trumpet	Angel's Trumpet	These are mostly outdoor ornamental plants	When flowers, leaves or seeds are eaten or ingested as a brewed tea, symptoms include hallucinations, dry mouth, muscle weakness, increased blood pressure and pulse, fever, dilated pupils, paralysis.
Skin Irritant Pictured: Poison Ivy	Poison Ivy, Brazilian Pepper	These are mostly outdoor wild plants	Poison Ivy, especially, causes acute symptoms in some people, including severe skin redness, itching, swelling, and blisters following direct or indirect contact. These plants are poisonous if swallowed or smoke from burning plant is inhaled. [ See our special section on Poison Ivy ]
Various	Wild Mushrooms	These are mostly outdoor wild plants	Symptoms vary by species and range from none to severe gastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain), to hallucinations, acute renal failure, and death.

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