8 Poisonous Houseplants That Could Endanger Your Pets And Children

5. Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is sometimes referred to as Dumb Cane and is a plant found in many homes and gardens in Australia. The plant is known for its thick stems and fleshy leaves, which are usually a strong green colour although sometimes also have yellow and green markings. The Dieffenbachia is commonly eaten by pets and children as its fast growing nature means it’s often left in pots on the floor.

Luckily, the toxicity of Dieffenbachia is usually mild for both humans and animals. Symptoms include extreme mouth pain, salivation, burning sensation, as well as swelling and numbing in the throat.

6. Caladium

A bulb plant with long-lasting leaves, the Caladium is a common and popular indoor poisonous houseplants, but it’s also present in a number of landscaped gardens. You may have heard of them referred to as Angel’s Wings or Elephant Ears. Caladium varieties come in a number of colours and that makes them even more interesting to children and pets.

But be warned, all parts of the Caladium are considered toxic to animals and humans. Symptoms of consuming the Caladium in people include painful burning and swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips and throat, difficulty breathing, speaking and swallowing, and possible blocked airways, which can be fatal.

In pets, the Caladium causes nausea, vomiting, staggering, head shaking, drooling and difficulty breathing.

7. Peace Lily

The Peace Lily, despite its name, is not actually a member of the lily family. It’s an evergreen plant with glossy leaves and an interesting bloom that originated in South America. They’re wonderful indoor plants, good air purifiers, and quite easy to grow in many conditions, but that doesn’t make them the safest plants. In people, Peace Lily toxicity includes burning and swelling of the lips, mouth and tongue, problems with speaking or swallowing, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In animals, there are some debates as to the level of danger the plant represents. Symptoms in the past have included burning of the mouth, excessive salivation, diarrhoea, dehydration, lack of appetite and vomiting. If not treated or identified, this can lead to renal failure and death.

8. Ivy

There’s something almost magical about Ivy, sometimes called English Ivy, and the way that it slowly creeps out over the top of pots or over stone walls. In an indoor setting, Ivy is popularly hung from hanging baskets for a cascading piece of plant eye candy. Now, while Ivy has many positives, there are some things to keep an eye on. In people, Ivy can cause severe skin irritation from touching. Eating the Ivy can result in burning of the mouth and tongue, stupor, convulsions, rash and a fever. These symptoms tend only to present when quite a large amount is eaten.

In animals, pet owners should be keeping an eye out for diarrhoea, hyperactivity, gasping breaths, weakness, tremors, staggering and vomiting.

Do you have these Poisonous Houseplants in your home?