RHS Poisonous Plants List
Created | Updated Jul 13, 2009
This list of plants has been taken from the Royal Horticultural Society based on research from the Medical Toxicology Unit, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Trust, and Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. It is the most up to date list which will help identify your problem plants in your garden, and help when you purchase new plants.
Acalypha(chenille plant, copperleaf): skin & eye irritant; poisonous
Aconitum(monkshood): poisonous; irritant to and viathe skin
Actaea sectionActaea(baneberry): poisonous; skin irritant
Aesculus(horse chestnut): poisonous
Aglaonema(Chinese evergreen): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Agrostemma githago(corncockle): poisonous
Alder buckthorn: See Rhamnus
Allamanda: poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Alocasia(taro): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Aloe: poisonous
Alstroemeria(Peruvian lily): skin irritant
Amaryllis: See Hippeastrum
Amaryllis belladona(belladonna lily): poisonous
Angel’s trumpet: See Brugmansia
Anthurium(flamingo flower): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Arisaema(cobra-lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Arum(cuckoo-pint, lords-and-ladies): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Asparagus(asparagus fern): may cause skin allergy; fruits poisonous
Atropa(deadly nightshade): poisonous; skin irritant
Bluebell: See Hyacinthoides
Brugmansia(angel’s trumpet): poisonous
Brunfelsia(yesterday, today and tomorrow): poisonous
Buckthorn: See Rhamnus
Bunny ears cactus: See Opuntia
Burning bush: See Dictamnus
Caladium(angel’s wings): poisonous
Calla lily: See Zantedeschia
Calla palustris(water arum): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Capsicum annum(ornamental pepper): skin & eye irritant; poisonous
Castor oil plant: See Ricinus
Chelidonium majus(greater celandine): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Chenille plant: See Acalypha
Cherry laurel: See Prunus laurocerasus
Chincherinchee: See Ornithogalum
Chinese evergreen: See Aglaonema
Christmas cherry: See Solanum
Chrysanthemum: skin irritant
Colchicum(autumn crocus): poisonous
Comfrey, Russian comfrey: See Symphytum
Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley): poisonous
Coriaria: poisonous corncockle: See Agrostemma
× Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress): skin irritant
Daffodil: See Narcissus
Daphne(mezereon, spurge laurel): poisonous; skin irritant
Datura(thornapple): poisonous; skin irritant
Delphinium (including Consolida) (larkspur): poisonous
Dictamnus(burning bush): skin irritant
Dieffenbachia(dumb cane, leopard lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Digitalis(foxglove): poisonous
Dracunculus(dragon arum): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Dumb cane: See Dieffenbachia
Echium: skin irritant
Epipremnum(devil’s ivy): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Euonymus(spindle tree): poisonous
Euphorbia(spurge): poisonous; skin & eye irritant NB: poinsettia, E. pulcherrima, is not harmful
Ficus benjamina(weeping fig): may cause skin allergy
Ficus carica(fig): skin & eye irritant
Foxglove: See Digitalis
Fremontodendron: skin & eye irritant
Gaultheria section Pernettya: poisonous
Giant hogweed: See Heracleum
Gloriosa superba(glory lily): poisonous
Glory lily: See Gloriosa
Hedera(ivy): poisonous; skin irritant
Helleborus(Christmas rose, Lenten rose): poisonous; skin irritant
Henbane: See Hyoscyamus
Heracleum mantegazzianum(giant + Laburnocytisus‘Adamii’: poisonous hogweed): severe skin irritant in bright sunlight.
Hippeastrum(amaryllis): poisonous
Homeria: poisonous
Hyacinthoides(bluebell): poisonous
Hyacinthus(hyacinth): skin irritant
Hyoscyamus(henbane): poisonous
Hypericum perforatum (perforate St John’s wort): poisonous
Ipomoea(morning glory): poisonous
Iris: poisonous; skin irritant
Ivy: See Hedera
Kalmia(calico bush): poisonous irritant
Laburnum: poisonous
Lagenaria(bottle gourd): poisonous
Lantana: poisonous; skin irritant
Larkspur: See Delphinium
Laurel: See Prunus laurocerasus
Ligustrum(privet): poisonous
Lily-of-the-valley: See Convallaria majalis
Lobelia (except bedding lobelia, L. erinus): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Lupinus(lupin): poisonous
Lysichiton(skunk cabbage): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Mandragora(mandrake): poisonous
Mirabilis(marvel of Peru, four o’clock plant): poisonous; skin irritant
Monkshood: See Aconitum
Monstera deliciosa(Swiss cheese plant): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Morning glory: See Ipomoea
Narcissus(daffodil): poisonous; skin irritant
Nerium oleander(oleander): poisonous
Nicotiana(tobacco): poisonous
Oleander: See Nerium oleander
Opuntia microdasys(bunny ears cactus): skin irritant
Ornithogalum(chincherinchee, star-of-Bethlehem): poisonous; skin
Papaver somniferum(opium poppy): poisonous
Passiflora caerulea(hardy passion flower): poisonous
Peace lily: See Spathiphyllum
Pernettya: see Gaultheria
Philodendron: poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Phytolacca(pokeweed): poisonous; skin irritant
Podophyllum(May apple): poisonous
Poinsettia: See Euphorbia
Pokeweed: See Phytolacca
Polygonatum(Solomon’s seal): poisonous
Polyscias: poisonous; skin irritant
Primula obconica(German primula): skin irritant
Privet: See Ligustrum
Prunus laurocerasus(cherry laurel, laurel): poisonous
Prunus lusitanica(Portugal laurel): seed kernels are poisonous
Rhamnus (including Frangula) (alder buckthorn, buckthorn): poisonous; skin irritant
Rhus verniciflua, R. radicans, R. succedanea, R. diversiloba, R. rydbergii, R. striata, R. toxicarium. R. vernix(Japanese lacquer tree, poison ivy, sumach): poisonous; severe skin irritant
Ricinus communis(castor oil plant): poisonous
Robinia pseudoacacia(locust tree): poisonous
Ruta(rue): severe skin irritant in bright sunlight
St John’s wort: See Hypericum
Sambucus (except S. nigra)(elder): poisonous
Schefflera(umbrella tree): skin irritant
Scilla: poisonous
Snowberry: See Symphoricarpos
Solanum(most species): poisonous
Solomon’s seal: See Polygonatum
Spanish broom: See Spartium
Spartium junceum(Spanish broom): poisonous
Spathiphyllum(peace lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Spathiphyllum(peace lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Spindle tree: See Euonymus
Spurge: See Euphorbia
Sumach: See Rhus
Swiss cheese plant: See Monstera
Symphoricarpos(snowberry): poisonous
Symphytum(comfrey, Russian comfrey): poisonous
Syngonium(arrowhead vine, goosefoot vine): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Tabernaemontana(crepe jasmine): poisonous
Taxus(yew): poisonous
Thornapple: See Datura
Tulipa(tulip): skin irritant
Veratrum(false hellebore): poisonous
Vitex(chaste tree): skin irritant
Wisteria: poisonous yesterday, today and tomorrow: See Brunfelsia
Yew: See Taxus
Zantedeschia(calla lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Do not let this list put you off buying these plants. They are safe to grow and can be enjoyed, just be careful and remember to treat them with respect.
Acalypha(chenille plant, copperleaf): skin & eye irritant; poisonous
Aconitum(monkshood): poisonous; irritant to and viathe skin
Actaea sectionActaea(baneberry): poisonous; skin irritant
Aesculus(horse chestnut): poisonous
Aglaonema(Chinese evergreen): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Agrostemma githago(corncockle): poisonous
Alder buckthorn: See Rhamnus
Allamanda: poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Alocasia(taro): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Aloe: poisonous
Alstroemeria(Peruvian lily): skin irritant
Amaryllis: See Hippeastrum
Amaryllis belladona(belladonna lily): poisonous
Angel’s trumpet: See Brugmansia
Anthurium(flamingo flower): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Arisaema(cobra-lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Arum(cuckoo-pint, lords-and-ladies): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Asparagus(asparagus fern): may cause skin allergy; fruits poisonous
Atropa(deadly nightshade): poisonous; skin irritant
Bluebell: See Hyacinthoides
Brugmansia(angel’s trumpet): poisonous
Brunfelsia(yesterday, today and tomorrow): poisonous
Buckthorn: See Rhamnus
Bunny ears cactus: See Opuntia
Burning bush: See Dictamnus
Caladium(angel’s wings): poisonous
Calla lily: See Zantedeschia
Calla palustris(water arum): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Capsicum annum(ornamental pepper): skin & eye irritant; poisonous
Castor oil plant: See Ricinus
Chelidonium majus(greater celandine): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Chenille plant: See Acalypha
Cherry laurel: See Prunus laurocerasus
Chincherinchee: See Ornithogalum
Chinese evergreen: See Aglaonema
Christmas cherry: See Solanum
Chrysanthemum: skin irritant
Colchicum(autumn crocus): poisonous
Comfrey, Russian comfrey: See Symphytum
Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley): poisonous
Coriaria: poisonous corncockle: See Agrostemma
× Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress): skin irritant
Daffodil: See Narcissus
Daphne(mezereon, spurge laurel): poisonous; skin irritant
Datura(thornapple): poisonous; skin irritant
Delphinium (including Consolida) (larkspur): poisonous
Dictamnus(burning bush): skin irritant
Dieffenbachia(dumb cane, leopard lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Digitalis(foxglove): poisonous
Dracunculus(dragon arum): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Dumb cane: See Dieffenbachia
Echium: skin irritant
Epipremnum(devil’s ivy): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Euonymus(spindle tree): poisonous
Euphorbia(spurge): poisonous; skin & eye irritant NB: poinsettia, E. pulcherrima, is not harmful
Ficus benjamina(weeping fig): may cause skin allergy
Ficus carica(fig): skin & eye irritant
Foxglove: See Digitalis
Fremontodendron: skin & eye irritant
Gaultheria section Pernettya: poisonous
Giant hogweed: See Heracleum
Gloriosa superba(glory lily): poisonous
Glory lily: See Gloriosa
Hedera(ivy): poisonous; skin irritant
Helleborus(Christmas rose, Lenten rose): poisonous; skin irritant
Henbane: See Hyoscyamus
Heracleum mantegazzianum(giant + Laburnocytisus‘Adamii’: poisonous hogweed): severe skin irritant in bright sunlight.
Hippeastrum(amaryllis): poisonous
Homeria: poisonous
Hyacinthoides(bluebell): poisonous
Hyacinthus(hyacinth): skin irritant
Hyoscyamus(henbane): poisonous
Hypericum perforatum (perforate St John’s wort): poisonous
Ipomoea(morning glory): poisonous
Iris: poisonous; skin irritant
Ivy: See Hedera
Kalmia(calico bush): poisonous irritant
Laburnum: poisonous
Lagenaria(bottle gourd): poisonous
Lantana: poisonous; skin irritant
Larkspur: See Delphinium
Laurel: See Prunus laurocerasus
Ligustrum(privet): poisonous
Lily-of-the-valley: See Convallaria majalis
Lobelia (except bedding lobelia, L. erinus): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Lupinus(lupin): poisonous
Lysichiton(skunk cabbage): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Mandragora(mandrake): poisonous
Mirabilis(marvel of Peru, four o’clock plant): poisonous; skin irritant
Monkshood: See Aconitum
Monstera deliciosa(Swiss cheese plant): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Morning glory: See Ipomoea
Narcissus(daffodil): poisonous; skin irritant
Nerium oleander(oleander): poisonous
Nicotiana(tobacco): poisonous
Oleander: See Nerium oleander
Opuntia microdasys(bunny ears cactus): skin irritant
Ornithogalum(chincherinchee, star-of-Bethlehem): poisonous; skin
Papaver somniferum(opium poppy): poisonous
Passiflora caerulea(hardy passion flower): poisonous
Peace lily: See Spathiphyllum
Pernettya: see Gaultheria
Philodendron: poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Phytolacca(pokeweed): poisonous; skin irritant
Podophyllum(May apple): poisonous
Poinsettia: See Euphorbia
Pokeweed: See Phytolacca
Polygonatum(Solomon’s seal): poisonous
Polyscias: poisonous; skin irritant
Primula obconica(German primula): skin irritant
Privet: See Ligustrum
Prunus laurocerasus(cherry laurel, laurel): poisonous
Prunus lusitanica(Portugal laurel): seed kernels are poisonous
Rhamnus (including Frangula) (alder buckthorn, buckthorn): poisonous; skin irritant
Rhus verniciflua, R. radicans, R. succedanea, R. diversiloba, R. rydbergii, R. striata, R. toxicarium. R. vernix(Japanese lacquer tree, poison ivy, sumach): poisonous; severe skin irritant
Ricinus communis(castor oil plant): poisonous
Robinia pseudoacacia(locust tree): poisonous
Ruta(rue): severe skin irritant in bright sunlight
St John’s wort: See Hypericum
Sambucus (except S. nigra)(elder): poisonous
Schefflera(umbrella tree): skin irritant
Scilla: poisonous
Snowberry: See Symphoricarpos
Solanum(most species): poisonous
Solomon’s seal: See Polygonatum
Spanish broom: See Spartium
Spartium junceum(Spanish broom): poisonous
Spathiphyllum(peace lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Spathiphyllum(peace lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Spindle tree: See Euonymus
Spurge: See Euphorbia
Sumach: See Rhus
Swiss cheese plant: See Monstera
Symphoricarpos(snowberry): poisonous
Symphytum(comfrey, Russian comfrey): poisonous
Syngonium(arrowhead vine, goosefoot vine): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Tabernaemontana(crepe jasmine): poisonous
Taxus(yew): poisonous
Thornapple: See Datura
Tulipa(tulip): skin irritant
Veratrum(false hellebore): poisonous
Vitex(chaste tree): skin irritant
Wisteria: poisonous yesterday, today and tomorrow: See Brunfelsia
Yew: See Taxus
Zantedeschia(calla lily): poisonous; skin & eye irritant
Do not let this list put you off buying these plants. They are safe to grow and can be enjoyed, just be careful and remember to treat them with respect.
