Yellow oleander is a large spreading shrub that is highly toxic and can cause death. 

It has:

• yellow-orange, funnel-shaped flowers with a sweet smell
• green fruit that turns black when ripe
• hard seeds inside the fruit, sometimes called “lucky nuts”
• a milky sap. 

All parts of yellow oleander, including smoke from burned plants, are toxic.

Pink oleanders (Nerium oleander) are common in Sydney and are usually planted as decorations. They are also highly toxic and can cause death. 

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 this plant are toxic and can affect the heart.

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 flowers
• green, spiky fruits
• clear sap.

All parts of this plant are toxic and can affect breathing.

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 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 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.

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
• spurge – a general name for bushy, euphorbia plants.

Sap from euphorbia or spurge plants can cause severe pain and injury to the eye. 

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 white-purple star-shaped flowers
• round yellow berries that fall easily.

All parts of these trees are toxic.

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.

Oxalate is a natural acid that forms tiny crystals in many plants. These crystals can cause pain, swelling, and trouble swallowing if touched. 

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 contain oxalate, but the stems are safe to eat after cooking.

Stinging trees are large plants 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.

This causes intense pain that can spread and last days or months.

Mushrooms are fungi that grow above ground. While many types can be eaten safely, others can cause severe illness or death.

There is no easy way to tell the difference between safe and poisonous mushrooms in the wild. There is no way to make poisonous mushrooms safe to eat.

Yucca are a group of shrubs or trees with long, sharp, sword-like leaves. 

Long, sharp yucca leaves can pierce the skin and the eardrum. Yucca injuries can be painful and take time to heal.

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. They are usually covered in sharp spikes.

The spikes on succulents and cacti can be very sharp and pierce the skin. Cactus injuries can lead to infections.

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.

For plant poisoning, first aid may include:

• washing the affected skin with running water
• flushing the eyes with clean, running water for 10-15 minutes
• removing plant pieces from your child's mouth, then rinsing with water.

For plant-related injuries, first aid may include:

• gently removing any spikes or plant material from the skin
• cleaning the area with water
• applying antiseptic cream, if available
• covering the injury with a gauze pad and clean bandage.

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

The treatment your child receives in the hospital will depend on:

• the type of plant 
• 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.

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.

It can be hard to tell if a plant is poisonous just by looking at it. Some signs that a plant might be harmful include:

• a bitter taste
• a strong or unusual smell
• milky sap
• red, black, dark purple, or blue seeds or berries.

Harmful plants may also have sharp spikes, needles, or fuzzy textures.
If you're unsure whether a plant is dangerous, keep it out of reach of children and don't let them touch or eat it.

To help prevent children from being poisoned or hurt by plants:

• teach them not to eat anything that they have taken from a plant, bush, or the ground 
• put fences or barriers around poisonous or harmful plants in your garden
• keep decorative plants out of reach
• teach children about dangerous plants and how to recognise them.