Georgia Gardener Newsletter

Georgia Gardener Newsletter Design Tip: October 4, 2007

Poisonous Landscape Plants

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Rhododendrons can be highly toxic

It's surprising just how many landscape plants and common weeds can be poisonous. The type and severity of toxins differ. Some plants produce mild reactions that are temporary and some are downright deadly. Conversely, there are edible landscape plants and some with both edible and deadly parts on the same plant.

The table below contains the common and botanical names of some more common landscape plants and weeds that are highly toxic. If ingested in sufficient quantities, these plants can be deadly. The amount required to be deadly can be as small as a few leaves or as in the case of Castor Bean - a single broken bean. To see pictures of the plant, click on the common name.

Just because a plant is highly toxic doesn't mean you have to rip it out of your garden. Simply exercise caution when working with the plant (wear gloves) and wash your hands immediately afterwards. If you have small children or pets that like to chew on things, you may want to avoid these plants.

The table below is not a comprehensive list of all known poisonous plants and does not include any of the poisonous mushrooms. For more information, consult:

UC Davis Poisonous Plant List
North Carolina State University Poisonous Plant Database

Should ingestion take place, call the Poison Control Center and seek immediate medical attention.

Poison Control Center: 404-616-9000 (Metro Atlanta); 1-800-222-1222 (Outside Metro Atlanta)

Highly Toxic (Deadly) Plants

Common Name	Botanical Name	Poisonous Parts
Monkshood	Aconitum spp.	All Parts
Buckeyes	Aesculus spp.	Seeds, Leaves, Sprouts
Florida Leucothoe	Agarista populifolia	Leaves
Elephant Ears	Alocasia spp.	All Parts
Autumn Crocus	Colchicum spp.	All Parts
Scotch Broom	Cytisus scoparius	All Parts
Daphne	Daphne spp.	All Parts
Delphium; Larkspur	Delphium spp.	All Parts
Foxglove	Digitalis spp.	All Parts
Snakeroot	Eupatorium rugosum	All Parts
Coral Bean	Erythrina spp.	All Parts
Carolina and Swamp Jessamine	Gelsemium spp.	All Parts
Glory Lily	Gloriosa superba	All Parts
Mountain and Swamp Laurels	Kalmia spp.	All Parts
Golden Chain Tree	Laburnum anagyroides	All Parts
Lantana	Lantana camara	Berries
Doghobble	Leucothoe spp.	Leaves, Nectar from flowers
Privet	Ligustrum spp.	Berries
Tomato	Lycopersicon esculentum	Leaves, Stems, Roots; Fruit is edible
Fetterbush	Lyonia spp.	Leaves, Nectar from Flowers
Oleander	Nerium oleander	All parts (even if brown)
Flowering Tobacco; Tobacco	Nicotiana spp.	All Parts
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Berries
Pokeweed	Phytolacca americana	All Parts (young leaves edible if prepared correctly)
Pieris	Pieris spp.	Leaves; Nectar from flowers
Mayapple	Podophyllum peltatum	Leaves; Unripe Fruit (edible when ripe)
Apricot	Prunus armeniaca	Leaves, Twigs, Seeds; Fruit is edible
Cherry	Prunus avium	Leaves, Twigs, Seeds; Fruit is edible
Cherry Laurel	Prunus caroliniana	Leaves, Twigs, Seeds
English Laurel	Prunus laurocerasus	Leaves, Twigs, Seeds
Peach	Prunus persica	Leaves, Twigs, Seeds; Fruit is edible
Black/Wild Cherry	Prunus serotina	Leaves, Twigs, Seeds
Rhododendron; Azalea	Rhododendron spp.	All Parts
Jetbead	Rhodotypos scandens	Berries
Castor Bean	Ricinus communis	Seeds (Beans)
Bloodroot	Sanguinaria canadensis	Roots (tubers)
Scilla/Squill	Scilla spp.	All Parts
Nightshade	Solanum spp.	Leaves, Berries
Potato	Solanum tuberosum	Leaves, Sprouts; Tubers are edible
Yew	Taxus spp.	Bark, Leaves, Seeds
Vinca	Vinca spp.	All Parts
Calla Lily	Zantedeschia spp.	All Parts
Rain Lily	Zephyranthes atamasco	All Parts, especially the bulb