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House Plants

Toxic and Safe Houseplants For Humans & Pets

The following is a listing of common house plants of which all or part of the plant may be toxic to humans or pets. There are many outdoor species of plants, not listed here, that are also poisonous. If you are not sure about the safety of a particular plant, regard it as dangerous, until you learn otherwise!

If you suspect that a part of one of these plants has been eaten,
contact your local poison center, immediately!!

Remember, the chemicals and poisons which you use to grow your plants may also be toxic, and as such, please regard these plants as "unsafe."

Most Toxic Plants For Humans, Cats, Dogs, Horses, & Birds

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum/Amaryllis sp.)	Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)	Mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens)
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum)	Daffodil (Narcissus spp)	Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
Devils Ivy Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)	Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)	Philodendrons (Scindapsus, Philodendron spp)
Azalea (Rhododendron spp)	Elephant’s Ear (Caladium hortulanum)	Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)	Emerald duke (Philodendron Erubescens)	Red princess (Philodendron bipennifolium)
Creeping Charlie (Pilea nummulariifolia)	English holly (Ilex aquifolium)	Schefflera (Umbrella plants)
Marble queen (Scindapsus aureus)	Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.)	Caladium (Caladium hortulanum)
Iris (Iris species)	Christmas rose (Helleborus niger)	English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)	Sprengeri fern (Asparagus densiflorus cv sprengeri)	Dracaena (Dracaena spp.)
Tulip (Tulipa spp.)	ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)	Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
Sago Palms (Cycas revoluta, zamia species)	Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)	Yew (Taxus spp.)
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)	Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp)	Jade Plant (Crassula argentea)
Lilies (Lilium species)	Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)	Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp)
Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)	Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)	Croton (Codiaeum sp.)
Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus cv sprengeri)	Begonia (Begonia spp.)	Aloe (Aloe vera)
Clivia (Clivia spp.)	Flamingo Flower (Anthurium scherzeranum)	Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Lantana (Lantana camara)	Hosta (Hosta plataginea)	Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)	Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)	Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)

For a more complete indexing of toxic house, garden and wild plants
I recommend you visit the ASPCA's

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435

Pet Friendly Plants For Humans, Cats, Dogs, & Birds

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)	Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)	African Violet (Saintpaulia spp.)
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)	Velvet Plant (Gynura aurantiaca)	Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis)	Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)	Gold-Fish Plant (Hypocyrta nummularia)
Living Stones (Lithops naureeniae)	Money Plant (Pachira aquatica)	Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya kerrii)
Nerve Plant (Fittonia albivenis)	String of Turtles (Peperomia prostata)	Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus senilis)
Lady Palm (Rhapis flabelliformis)	Rattle Snake Plant (Calathea insignis)	False Aralia (Dizygotheca elegantissima)
Haworthia (Haworthia spp.)	Swedish Ivy (Pilea nummulariifolia)	Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)	Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus humilis)	Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)	Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)	Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
California Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia californica)	Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)	Air Plants (Tillandsia spp)

Plants That Filter The Air You Breathe

Toxin	Plants That Filter It Out
Benzene	English ivy, Dracaena marginata, gerbera daisy, chrysanthemum, and peace lily
Formaldehyde	Spider plant, bamboo palm, philodendron, and mother-in-law's tongue
Trichloroethylene	Chrysanthemum, gerbera daisy, peace lily, and Dracaena deremensis

Health Benefits of Houseplants

Although there are countless reasons to keep indoor plants, below are the top 12 reasons we love growing houseplants in our homes and offices.

1. Allergy Relief: Researchers found that rooms with plants have less dust and mold than rooms without any foliage. Leaves and other parts of the plants act as natural filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles. Common low-light houseplants like Chinese evergreen or the peace lily can do the job. Violets and other plants with textured leaves might be even better trappers. Avoid plants with pollen or spores.

2. Happy Blooms: Plants not only can brighten up your surroundings, but they can lift your mood. Employees who work in offices with plants tend to feel better about their jobs, worry less, and take fewer sick days. Flowers in particular are a good pick-me-up. So liven up your room with blooms, like a lipstick plant, or a fresh bouquet and see if your outlook improves.

3. Spider Plants for Moisture: Furnaces and air conditioners can sap humidity indoors, especially in the winter. That can raise your chances for catching a cold or the flu, or make your skin itch. Houseplants add moisture to the air. One study found a collection of spider plants boosted the relative humidity in a bedroom from 20% to a more comfortable 30%.

4. Air Purifiers: Carpets, paint, cleaners, printer toners and inks, and many other indoor objects give off pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They can build up in the air and irritate your eyes and skin, worsen your asthma, or make it hard for you to breathe. Houseplants can soak up VOCs. Some good air-scrubbers are English ivy, asparagus fern, and dragon tree.

5. Herbs for Better Digestion: Mint may help tamp down bloating, gas, and other problems after you eat. Common varieties you can grow in containers include peppermint and spearmint (essential in mint juleps). Basil, another herb for cooking, also can help calm your stomach. Try steeping the leaves in hot water.

6. Relaxing Lavender: This fragrant purple plant has been an important herbal medicine for centuries. You can inhale lavender oil or massage it on your scalp for aromatherapy. You can also boil the leaves for tea. Some studies suggest it may help calm you and help lower any anxiety. But more proof is needed.

7. Aloe for First Aid: Gel from this plant is a popular home remedy. It can treat sunburns and other minor burns. It can soothe your psoriasis and other skin conditions. Juice from the aloe plant can even help you poop if you’re constipated.

8. Restful Sleep: Plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. It’s how they turn sunlight into food, a process called photosynthesis. Some, like gerbera daisies, keep giving off oxygen even after the sun goes down. Put a few cheerful pots in your bedroom and the extra oxygen may help you sleep more soundly.

9. Stress Relief: Feeling the weight of daily pressures? Try and add a heart-leaf philodendron or a snake plant to your décor. It may help you relax. Several studies have measured people’s levels of blood pressure, heart rate, and the stress hormone cortisol while they handled a tough task or were under mental stress. Being around plants has a calming effect on people.
10. Sharper Focus: Plants may help raise your test scores, make it easier to concentrate on your tasks, and strengthen your memory. Students in classrooms with three potted plants performed better on math, spelling, reading, and science tests than kids in classrooms without any greens. Bring home a golden pothos or a bamboo palm and you just might clear that to-do list.
11. Faster Healing: Taking a bouquet of flowers or potted foliage to a loved one in the hospital can be more than just a thoughtful gesture. It may actually help them recover more quickly. Researchers found that people who had surgery got better faster if they had plants in their room or even a view of the nature from their window. They also tolerated pain better and needed fewer medications when surrounded by greenery. Try an orchid or a peace lily.
12. Better Mental and Emotional Health: Some therapists use gardening to help treat depression, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions. Learning to nurture a living plant may help lower anxiety, improve attention, and lessen the severity of depression. Plants also might help people recovering from trauma, as well as those with dementia or who live in long-term care facilities. A word of caution to pet owners - some plants are toxic to pets, so check with your vet or the ASPCA toxic plant list to be safe when choosing.

One Final Note..

Having plants in your home or office can be a source of pleasure. Indoor gardening relieves stress, boosts creativity, productivity, and focus, and promotes recovery. There’s some evidence that houseplants may positively influence the air quality in your home as well. It’s important to know which plants are toxic if you have children or pets in the home. If you have asthma or allergies, be alert to species that aggravate your symptoms. Sharing your living or working space with living, “breathing” plant life can make your environment a happier, healthier place to be.

Houseplant enthusiasts have long struggled with the difficulty of keeping plants in homes where curious pets reside. Pet-safety is certainly an issue of concern if you intend to keep houseplants; however, with a little bit of research and planning, you can be sure that you only purchase non-toxic plants that are safe to keep around pets and small children. Pet-safe houseplants come in a range of shapes, colors and growth habits and can include succulents, cacti and tropical plants. There is no need to feel that your houseplant collection needs to be limited because of your pet. Just do a bit planning, use this guide as a touchstone to make safe houseplant choices and you’ll be growing a pet-friendly indoor garden in no time.

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