Houseplants are touted for their health benefits. They help clean and add humidity to the air, create oxygen and provide the emotional benefit of nurturing something. However, many common houseplants are risky for either people or their pets. Most are not deadly, but they can cause extreme discomfort.
Know the names of all your houseplants. If your child or your pet ingests a plant, seek health care immediately. There is a poison control number for pets at the ASPCA website, or you can call the standard household poison control number.
A few of the dangerous common plants include, but are not limited to:
- Heart-leafed pothos, a plant popular in homes and offices for its beauty and easy care, can cause digestive upset if ingested by a dog or cat, and is deadly to a parakeet.
- Dracaena, a plant grown for its beautiful leaves, causes gastrointestinal problems for animals. This plant comes in varying sizes from “lucky bamboo” to the larger dracaena marginata. The dracaena fragrans blooms with wonderfully scented flowers, but indoors it can cause headache or allergic reactions.
- Aloe Vera, well known for its healing properties, can cause stomach problems for dogs, cats, and humans, if the green leaf coating is ingested. It is good for topical health care but should not be eaten.
- Amaryllis and poinsettia, popular holiday plants, cause symptoms of gastric irritation. The poinsettia can be allergic to humans.
- Asparagus fern can cause skin allergy with repeated exposure, and the berries are toxic. The spathphyllium commonly known as peace lily is another problem plant for the digestive system.
- Dieffenbachia, or dumb cane, causes severe mouth irritation.
If you want both plants and pets, keep them small. Train the pets to stay down and the plants to stay up. Plants like pothos or ivy that hang low can be fastened up on hooks, creating a beautiful wall display. Asparagus fern can be tied up on sticks or placed on a very high shelf. Keep the stems trimmed short enough not to brush against your pets.
