Plants safe for kids, and plants toxic to young children
Every plant here was checked against poison control centers and university extension services. A plant is listed as safe only when a cited source says it is non-toxic to young children, and every entry links to its sources.
We have checked 467 plants so far: 66 non-toxic to young children, 138 toxic or mildly toxic, and 263 we can't call yet. The list grows as we check more.
Also for cats and dogs, or check any plant.
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
These filters come from our checked care guides, so for now they cover 10 of the 204 plants listed below.
Safe for kids (66)
Each one has a cited source that calls it non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
Spider plantChlorophytum comosumNon-toxic
Sources: kansaspoisoncenter.com, vumc.org
Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jade plantCrassula ovataNon-toxic
Sources: chop.edu, poison.org
Photo: Gutiérrez Esther, CC BY-SA 4.0
Burro's tailSedum morganianumNon-toxic
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Christmas cactusSchlumbergera truncataNon-toxic
Sources: poison.org, chop.edu
Photo: Victor Farjalla Pontes, CC BY 4.0
Wax plantHoya carnosaNon-toxic
Sources: kansaspoisoncenter.com, uconn.edu
Photo: Yvan leduc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Prayer plantMaranta leuconeuraNon-toxic
Sources: kansaspoisoncenter.com, chop.edu
Photo: rebecca bachman, CC0
Goeppertia makoyanaNon-toxic
Sources: kansaspoisoncenter.com, mnpoison.org
Photo: Cary Bass, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baby rubber plantPeperomia obtusifoliaNon-toxic
Source: maripoisoncenter.com
Photo: Andrés Ramírez-Barrera, CC BY 4.0
Small-leaf spiderwortTradescantia fluminensisNon-toxic
Source: poison.org
Photo: Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, CC BY 4.0
FatsiaFatsia japonicaNon-toxic
Sources: uconn.edu, childrensal.org
Photo: Michael Berardozzi, CC BY 4.0
Hawai'I birdnest fernAsplenium nidusNon-toxic
Source: uconn.edu
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0
Boston fernNephrolepis exaltataNon-toxic
Source: chop.edu
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Parlor palmChamaedorea elegansNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Tequila 13:54, 24 June 2007, CC BY-SA 3.0
Areca palmChrysalidocarpus lutescensNon-toxic
Source: uconn.edu
Photo: Romer N. Rabarijaona, CC0
Cast iron plantAspidistra elatiorNon-toxic
Source: uconn.edu
Photo: Miha Jurić, CC BY 4.0
African violetStreptocarpus ionanthusNon-toxic
Source: poison.org
Photo: Wildfeuer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacusNon-toxic
Sources: ncsu.edu, colostate.edu
Photo: Meng-Ying Tsai, CC0
Nerve plantFittonia albivenisNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Amanda Fisher, CC BY 4.0
Polkadot-plantHypoestes phyllostachyaNon-toxic
Photo: 葉子, CC0
English lavenderLavandula angustifoliaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Patrick Hacker, CC BY 4.0
RosemarySalvia rosmarinusNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Anna C, CC0
BasilOcimum basilicumNon-toxic
Sources: extension.org, illinois.edu
Photo: portioid, CC BY 4.0
Garden thymeThymus vulgarisNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Ina Siebert, CC0
OreganoOriganum vulgareNon-toxic
Source: extension.org
Photo: Naturalista, CC BY 4.0
CorianderCoriandrum sativumNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Peter de Lange, CC0
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Elias, CC BY 4.0
Kitchen sageSalvia officinalisNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Garden cucumberCucumis sativusNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Dinesh Valke, CC BY-SA 4.0
Field pumpkinCucurbita pepoNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Dave Behm, CC0
LettuceLactuca sativaNon-toxic
Photo: en:User:Geographer, CC BY 1.0
StrawberryFragaria × ananassaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Milla Carne, CC0
RaspberryRubus idaeusNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Benoit Renaud, CC BY 4.0
Highbush blueberryVaccinium corymbosumNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Nick Kleinschmidt, CC BY 4.0
Common sunflowerHelianthus annuusNon-toxic
Source: atlanticcanadapoisoncentre.ca
Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, CC BY 4.0
Eastern purple coneflowerEchinacea purpureaNon-toxic
Sources: alberta.ca, missouripoisoncenter.org
Photo: skylar_schell, CC0
Buzzy lizzyImpatiens wallerianaNon-toxic
Source: uconn.edu
Photo: Samuel Zuluaga, CC BY 4.0
Common lilacSyringa vulgarisNon-toxic
Source: chop.edu
Photo: Peeter Talvistu, CC BY 4.0
Zinnia elegansNon-toxic
Sources: iowapoison.org, uconn.edu
Photo: Ricard Busquets Reverte, CC BY 4.0
CamelliaCamellia japonicaNon-toxic
Photo: harum.koh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidiiNon-toxic
Sources: oregonstate.edu, rhs.org.uk
Photo: John Barkla, CC BY 4.0
Crape myrtleLagerstroemia indicaNon-toxic
Source: vcu.edu
Photo: Nonbinary-Naturalist, CC0
Bay laurelLaurus nobilisNon-toxic
Sources: ncsu.edu, arizona.edu
Photo: Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb, CC BY 4.0
DaisyBellis perennisNon-toxic
Source: poisons.ie
Photo: Julian List, CC0
OnionAllium cepaNon-toxic
Source: poison.org
Photo: Mirela, CC0
WatermelonCitrullus lanatusNon-toxic
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0
BarleyHordeum vulgareNon-toxic
Source: poison.org
Photo: gerardbertrand, CC BY 4.0
GingerZingiber officinaleNon-toxic
Photo: Venkatx5, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common oatAvena sativaNon-toxic
Sources: poison.org, ncsu.edu
Photo: Colin Meurk, CC BY-SA 4.0
See all 66 plants our sources call non-toxic to young children
Toxic to kids (138)
Most dangerous first. Includes plants our sources call mildly toxic; each card says which, and how severe.
Common daffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissusToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Daniele Giugia, CC BY 4.0
FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaToxic, severe
Sources: poison.org, ncsu.edu
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0
OleanderNerium oleanderToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Marco Zaccaria Di Fraia, CC BY 4.0
Common yewTaxus baccataToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Sitomon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Northern whitecedarThuja occidentalisToxic, severe
Photo: bobkennedy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Japanese flowering cherryPrunus serrulataToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: W Rao, CC BY 4.0
Satsuki azaleaRhododendron indicumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0
PotatoSolanum tuberosumToxic, severe
Photo: Alice Shanks, CC BY 4.0
PeanutArachis hypogaeaToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Anthony A Simmons, CC0
PomegranatePunica granatumToxic, severe
Photo: Proteros, CC BY 4.0
ApricotPrunus armeniacaToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: Валя Айникеева, CC0
CloveSyzygium aromaticumToxic, severe
Source: vumc.org
Photo: Bayu Nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0
CassavaManihot esculentaToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: 葉子, CC0
Broad beanVicia fabaToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Castor oil plantRicinus communisToxic, severe
Sources: poison.org, ncsu.edu
Photo: Dvellakat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria majalisToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0
European plumPrunus domesticaToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: YAMAMAYA, CC BY-SA 3.0
Maidenhair treeGinkgo bilobaToxic, severe
Sources: ncsu.edu, poison.org
Photo: EecherplazGinkgo06.jpg : Cayambe derivative work: Ginkgotree, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sour cherryPrunus cerasusToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: User:Nino Barbieri, CC BY-SA 2.5
Black nightshadeSolanum nigrumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0
JimsonweedDatura stramoniumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Taka assumed, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deadly nightshadeAtropa bella-donnaToxic, severe
Sources: ncsu.edu, poison.org
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Black henbaneHyoscyamus nigerToxic, severe
Sources: ncsu.edu, colostate.edu
Photo: maurizio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Star aniseIllicium verumToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Stephan van Helden, CC BY-SA 4.0
Black locustRobinia pseudoacaciaToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder . Feel free to use my photos, but pleas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Poison hemlockConium maculatumToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: MPF, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cultivated tobaccoNicotiana tabacumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Jom / Joachim Müllerchen, CC BY 2.5
RosarypeaAbrus precatoriusToxic, severe
Sources: poison.org, ncsu.edu
Photo: Dinesh Valke, CC BY-SA 4.0
NutmegMyristica fragransToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: Kristof Zyskowski, CC BY 4.0
European mistletoeViscum albumToxic, severe
Source: poison.org
Photo: Maciej Boenisch, CC BY 4.0
Greater celandineChelidonium majusToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Autumn crocusColchicum autumnaleToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Markus Krieger, CC BY 4.0
Madagascar widow's-thrillKalanchoe blossfeldianaToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Dante, CC BY-SA 2.5
English ivyHedera helixToxic, moderate
Sources: poison.org, ncsu.edu
Photo: Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb, CC BY 4.0
Dumb caneDieffenbachia seguineToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: hecklemore, CC BY 4.0
Heart of JesusCaladium bicolorToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Diogo Luiz, CC BY 4.0
African milk treeEuphorbia trigonaToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0
TomatoSolanum lycopersicumToxic, moderate
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0
Common hyacinthHyacinthus orientalisToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Kristi Zoebelein, CC0
Candle larkspurDelphinium elatumToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Denis Bastianelli, CC BY 4.0
PeachPrunus persicaToxic, moderate
Source: poison.org
Photo: Evan M. Raskin, CC BY 4.0
FlaxLinum usitatissimumToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
LicoriceGlycyrrhiza glabraToxic, moderate
Sources: ncsu.edu, poison.org
Photo: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
BalsampearMomordica charantiaToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Albert, CC BY-SA 3.0
MarijuanaCannabis sativaToxic, moderate
Source: poison.org
Photo: Chmee2, CC BY 3.0
Wild parsnipPastinaca sativaToxic, moderate
Photo: Olivier Pichard, CC BY-SA 3.0
Black elderberrySambucus nigraToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Willow, CC BY 2.5
Questions people ask
Which plants are safe for young children?
Of the 467 plants we have checked, 66 have a cited source that calls them non-toxic to young children, including spider plant, jade plant, burro's tail, Christmas cactus and wax plant.
Plants and sources: Spider plant (kansaspoisoncenter.com), Jade plant (chop.edu), Burro's tail (uconn.edu), Christmas cactus (poison.org), Wax plant (kansaspoisoncenter.com)
Which plants are most dangerous to young children?
Our sources rate Common daffodil, Foxglove, oleander, Common Yew and Northern Whitecedar as toxic to young children with severe effects.
Plants and sources: Common daffodil (ncsu.edu), Foxglove (poison.org), Oleander (ncsu.edu), Common yew (ncsu.edu), Northern whitecedar (uga.edu)
Is spider plant safe for young children?
Our sources call spider plant non-toxic to young children.
Plant and source: Spider plant (kansaspoisoncenter.com)
Is jade plant safe for young children?
Our sources call jade plant non-toxic to young children.
Plant and source: Jade plant (chop.edu)