Toxic Plants
Children are often drawn to the bright colors found in plants or to the seeds and beautiful berries and flowers they produce.
BEWARE! Some of these can be dangerous if ingested.
Plants are grouped according to how poisonous or toxic they can be if ingested or if juices from injured plant parts come in contact with the skin.
For example, the small amount of chemical secretions from this injured poison ivy leaf on the left can cause significant irritation when touched to skin areas as shown in the picture on the right. Similar symptoms may even be acquired from the smoke from burning poison ivy plants.
Remember, sometimes it takes a large amount to cause symptoms, but sometimes it only takes a little.
Call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. The poison specialist can determine if further treatment is needed.
The following are types of Toxic Plants found in Alabama:
| Common Name: Aloe |
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Common Name: Azalea |
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| Botanical Name: Aloe Vera |
Botanical Name: Rhododendron asalea |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Black Locust |
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| Botanical Name: Robinia psuedoacacia |
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| Poisonous Parts: seeds, bark, foliage |
| Common Name: Boxwood |
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Common Name: Buckthorn |
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| Botanical Name: Buxus sempervirens |
Botanical Name: Rhamnus cathartica |
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| Poisonous Parts: leaves, stems |
Poisonous Parts: fruit, leaves, bark |
| Common Name: Calamondim Orange |
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Common Name: Castor |
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| Botanical Name: Citris mitis |
Botanical Name: Ricinis communis |
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| Poisonous Parts: fruit peels, thorns |
Poisonous Parts: seeds |
| Common Name: China Berry |
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Common Name: Chokecherry |
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| Botanical Name: Melia azedarach |
Botanical Name: Prunus virginiana |
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| Poisonous Parts: berries |
Poisonous Parts: seed or pit |
| Common Name: Cotoneaster |
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Common Name: Crocus |
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| Botanical Name: Cotoneaster |
Botanical Name: Colchicum autumnale |
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| Poisonous Parts: fruit, berries |
Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially bulb |
| Common Name: Cyclamen |
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Common Name: Daffodil |
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| Botanical Name: Cyclamen species |
Botanical Name: Narcissus species |
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| Poisonous Parts: tuber, root |
Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially bulb |
| Common Name: Deadly Nightshade |
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Common Name: Dogbane |
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| Botanical Name: Atropa belladona |
Botanical Name: Apocynum cannabinum |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Dumbcane |
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Common Name: Elderberry |
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| Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia species |
Botanical Name: Sambucus species |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: Ieaves, shoots, bark |
| Common Name: Elephant Ear |
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Common Name: Engleman Ivy (Virginia Creeper) |
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| Botanical Name: Xanthosoma species |
Botanical Name: Parthenocissus quinguefolia |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: berries |
| Common Name: Eyebane |
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Common Name: Four o' clock |
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| Botanical Name: Euphorbia maculata |
Botanical Name: Mirabilis jalapa root |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: seeds |
| Common Name: Foxglove |
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Common Name: Ground Ivy |
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| Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea |
Botanical Name: Glecoma hederacea |
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| Poisonous Parts: Ieaves, seeds |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Holly |
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Common Name: Horsechesnut - Buckeye |
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| Botanical Name: Ilex aquifolium |
Botanical Name: Aesculus species |
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| Poisonous Parts: leaves, berries |
Poisonous Parts: flowers, sprouts, nuts |
| Common Name: Hyacinth |
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Common Name: Hydrangea |
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| Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis |
Botanical Name: Hydrangea species |
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| Poisonous Parts: bulb |
Poisonous Parts: leaves, buds |
| Common Name: Iris |
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Common Name: Jequirity Bean |
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| Botanical Name: Iris missouriensis |
Botanical Name: Abrus precatorius bean |
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| Poisonous Parts: bulbs, stems, leaves |
Poisonous Parts: beans, if chewed |
| Common Name: Jerusalem Cherry |
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Common Name: Jimson Weed |
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| Botanical Name: Aloe Vera |
Botanical Name: Datura stramonium |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Juniper |
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Common Name: Kentucky Coffee Tree |
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| Botanical Name: Juniperus virginiana |
Botanical Name: Gymnocladus dioica |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: seeds |
| Common Name: Larkspur |
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Common Name: Lilly of the Valley |
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| Botanical Name: Delphinium species |
Botanical Name: Convallaria majalis |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Mistletoe |
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Common Name: Night Blooming Jessamine |
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| Botanical Name: Phoradendrom flavescens |
Botanical Name: Cestrum nocturnum |
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| Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially berries |
Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially berries |
| Common Name: Nightshade |
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Common Name: Oak |
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| Botanical Name: Solanum species |
Botanical Name: Quercus species |
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| Poisonous Parts: Ieaves, berries, green fruit |
Poisonous Parts: raw acorns, young shoots |
| Common Name: Oleander |
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Common Name: Philodendron |
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| Botanical Name: Thevetia peruviana |
Botanical Name: Philodendron |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts, especially seeds |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Poison Hemlock |
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Common Name: Poison Ivy |
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| Botanical Name: Conium maculatum |
Botanical Name: Rhus radicans |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts, especially roots |
Poisonous Parts: Sap from all parts |
| Common Name: Poison Sumac |
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Common Name: Pokeweed |
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| Botanical Name: Rhus Vernix |
Botanical Name: Phytolacca americana |
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| Poisonous Parts: Sap from all parts |
Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Snow on the Mountain |
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Common Name: Tomato |
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| Botanical Name: Euphoria marginata |
Botanical Name: Solanaceae |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Poisonous Parts: Leaves |
| Common Name: American Pasqueflower |
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Common Name: Water hemlock |
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| Botanical Name: Anemone patens |
Botanical Name: Cicuta douglasii |
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Poisonous Parts: |
Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially roots |
| Common Name: Yews |
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| Botanical Name: Taxus species |
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| Poisonous Parts: All parts |
Photos used courtesy of the Birmingham Zoo
