Poisonous or harmful plants and children factsheet

Introduction

Some common plants are dangerous for children. When touched or swallowed, they can be poisonous, cause allergic reactions, or cause physical injuries.

Poisonous or harmful plants can:

grow in gardens or places where children play
be used as decorations in the home
produce fruit, berries and seeds that look edible to children
grow petals or leaves in bright colours and patterns that look attractive to children.

Some plants are poisonous or sharp to:

keep them safe from predators
help them spread seeds and reproduce
help them grow in different environments.

Babies and young children under four years are at a higher risk of poisoning or injury from plants. This is because they are learning to explore their environment and will put things in their mouth to learn about taste and texture.

Poisonous or harmful plants to avoid

Yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) - Yellow oleander is a large spreading shrub that is highly toxic and has caused death in children. It has: - yellow and orange, funnel-shaped, sweet-smelling flowers - green, angular fruit that turns black when ripe - hard seeds that are found inside the fruit, sometimes called “lucky nuts” - a milky sap. All parts of the yellow oleander are toxic, including smoke from burned plants. Pink oleanders (Nerium oleander) are common in Sydney and can be planted as decorations. However, they are also highly toxic and can cause death if swallowed.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) - Foxglove is a highly toxic flowering plant. It has: - pink and purple bell-shaped flowers that hang downwards - spots on the inside of the flowers - soft, fuzzy, green leaves - fuzzy pods that contain lots of tiny seeds - clear sap. All parts of the plant are toxic and can affect the heart.

Castor Oil plant (Ricinus communis) - The castor oil plant is a blue-green coloured shrub that is highly toxic. It has: - large, glossy, star-pointed leaves that smell foul when crushed - red, spiky-looking flowers - green, spiky looking fruits - clear sap. All parts of the plant are toxic and can affect breathing.

Crab’s eye (Abrus precatorius) - Crab’s eye is a creeping plant that is highly toxic. It has: - thin stems with green, oval leaves on either side - green seed pods that turn to dark brown - red and black seeds or peas - small pink, white or purple flowers - clear sap. The seeds of this plant are highly toxic when chewed or broken.

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) - Deadly nightshade is a bushy herb that is highly toxic. It has: - green, pointed oval leaves that have a ribbed texture - purple-brown flowers that start as a bell shape and open up to a five-point star - glossy, black berries that can be confused with other fruit. All parts of the plant are toxic.

Euphorbia (Spurge) - Euphorbia are a large group of plants that have common traits like: - milky, poisonous sap that is similar to latex - small, clustered flowers surrounded by bigger, coloured leaves. Spurge is a general name for bushy, euphorbia plants. Spurge sap can cause severe pain and injury to the eye. Common euphorbia plants include: - poinsettias – large, red leaves often used around Christmas time - garden croton – large green and red leaves - crown of thorns – two rounded, coloured leaves on either side.

White Cedar (Melia azedarach) - White cedars are large trees that lose their leaves for a few months yearly. They have: - bright green, glossy, pointed leaves that turn yellow before falling off - clusters of star-shaped flowers that range from white to purple - round yellow berries that are easily found on the ground after falling. All parts of these trees are toxic.

Angels trumpet (Brugmansia and related Datura) - Angel's trumpet is a woody shrub that is often planted for decoration. It has: - pale orange, purple or white trumpet-shaped flowers that hang downwards - soft, dusky green leaves - clear sap - a strong, sweet smell. All parts of the plant are toxic.

A collage image of Oxalate-containing species (Dieffenbachia, Dumb cane, Peace Lily and Philodendron) — Plants that contain oxalate - Oxalate is a natural acid found as tiny crystals in the juice, stems, and leaves of many common plants. Plants that contain oxalate are often used as decoration in homes. Oxalate crystals irritate the sensitive tissue of the skin and mouth, causing intense pain, swelling and trouble swallowing. Plants that have oxalate crystals include: - peace lily – glossy green leaves with white lily flowers on long stems - caladium – large, green leaves with a purple middle - dumb canes – large, green leaves with a white middle - devil’s ivy – a climbing plant that has green-yellow, marbled leaves. Rhubarb leaves also contain oxalate, while the stems are safe after cooking.

Stinging trees (including Dendrocnide excelsa and Dendrocnide moroides) - Stinging trees are large and often found in rainforests. They have: - small flowers that grow in bunches on the leaves - large, pale green leaves covered in stinging hairs - clear sap containing stinging hairs. Touching a leaf or twig from a stinging tree will cause the tiny stinging hairs to push through the skin and cause a severe stinging feeling. Stinging can spread across the body and last for days or months.

Mushrooms - Mushrooms are fungi that grow above ground. Many types of mushrooms can be eaten safely, and others can cause serious illness or death. There is no easy way to tell safe mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms in the wild. There is no way to make poisonous mushrooms safe to eat.

Yucca - Yucca are a group of shrubs or trees with long, sharp, sword-like leaves. Long, sharp yucca leaves can pierce the skin and, in some cases, the eardrum. Yucca injuries can be painful and take time to heal.

Cactus and succulents - Succulents are thick, fleshy plants that can hold water in their leaves and stems in dry environments. A cactus is a succulent plant usually found in hot and dry climates, covered in sharp spikes. The spikes on succulents and cacti can be very sharp and pierce the skin. Cactus injuries can lead to infections.

Palm tree spikes - Some palm trees have sharp spikes and “teeth” around the base of the trunk and branches. These spikes can cause serious injury, especially to the joints and tendons in the hands.

A collage image of Euphorbia Hirta (Asthma weed), Toxicodendron succedaneum (Rhus tree) and Red grevillia (Spider flower) — Plants that cause allergic reactions - Some plants can cause allergic reactions when touched. A common allergic reaction is allergic dermatitis. Allergic dermatitis is when skin becomes irritated and inflamed after touching an allergen. Common plants that can cause allergic dermatitis include: - rhus tree – small shrubs with green leaves that turn red in autumn - grevillias – green shrubs with unique flowers that range from red and spider-like to bottle brush shaped. Asthma weed is a plant that can trigger allergic conditions like: - hay fever – an allergic reaction that causes a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes and sneezing - asthma – a condition where the airways become narrow and blocked with mucus, making it difficult to breathe - conjunctivitis – an irritation in the eye that causes redness and discharge.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of poisoning from plants can include:

nausea and vomiting
abdominal pain and cramps
irregular or fast heartbeat
burning or stinging in the mouth, lips or tongue
fits or seizures
difficulty breathing.

If you think your child has swallowed, touched or reacted to a dangerous plant, you must act immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to show up.

Call the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for immediate support. They will give you information about any first aid you need to do and tell you which emergency department to go to.

If possible, take a photo or write down details of the plant your child has had contact with.

Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance if your child has severe symptoms like:

difficulty breathing
losing consciousness or passing out
chest pain.

Give as much information as possible about the plant to the phone operator and follow their instructions until the ambulance arrives.

Symptoms of contact with a harmful plant can include:

cuts to the skin
bleeding
swelling
redness.

If a plant has seriously injured your child, go to your nearest emergency department.

Diagnosis

A doctor can diagnose poisoning or injury based on:

your child’s symptoms
the type of plant
the amount of plants ingested
any relevant tests or scans.

Treatment

Call the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for immediate support. They will give you information about any first aid you need to do and tell you which emergency department to go to.

First aid

First aid for poisonous plants can include:

washing affected skin with running water
flushing out affected eyes with clean, running water for 10-15 minutes
removing any remaining pieces of plant from your child’s mouth before washing with running water.

First aid for plant injuries can include:

gently removing any spikes or plant tissue from the skin where possible
cleaning the skin gently with clean water
applying an antiseptic cream, if there is one available
covering the injury with gauze and a clean bandage, if available.

Call the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or see your local doctor for more information.

Treatment in hospital

How poisoning is treated in hospital will depend on:

the type of poison
the amount of poison
whether it was swallowed, breathed in or touched
the symptoms your child is showing.

Your child’s treatment team will work to:

keep airways open and breathing stable
keep blood pressure and heart rate stable
keep your child conscious
treat any symptoms
remove or lower the impact of the poison.

Management

Identifying dangerous plants

There is no way to see whether a plant is poisonous or not by looking at it unless you know what type of plant it is. Generally, signs a plant may be poisonous include:

a bitter taste
a funny smell
milky sap
red seeds or berries.

Harmful plants can have physical signs like spikes or needles, sharp edges, or a fuzzy texture.

If you are unsure whether a plant is poisonous or harmful, you should leave it alone and keep it away from children.

Plant safety

You can prevent children from being poisoned or injured by plants by:

teaching them not to eat anything straight from a plant, bush or the ground
putting a fence or barrier around any poisonous or harmful plants in your garden
putting any decorative plants up high, out of reach of children
teaching children about poisonous and harmful plants and how to recognise them.

Resources and more information

NSW Poisons information centre (opens in a new tab)

Poisonous or harmful plants and children