FGMasthead1.GIF (15688 bytes)

Your Source for Gardening in the Sunshine State!

Poisonous Plants of Florida

Florida has many beautiful plants. But some can be dangerous.  Ingestion or contact with some of these plants may cause symptoms ranging from skin, eye and mouth irritation, pain, breathing problems, allergic reactions, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, coma or even death.  Below are photos and descriptions of some of the most common poisonous plants and the effects contact or ingestion of them may have.  We have also provided contact points below for the Poison Information Centers in Florida if an emergency should arise.

HOW TO HELP PREVENT POISONING ACCIDENTS FROM PLANTS:

  • Recognize the plants in your surroundings.  Know which are poisonous.  Purchase non-toxic plants for your home and garden.
  • Remove and destroy poisonous plants from your home and garden and ask your neighbors to do the same.
  • Teach children that putting leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, berries or wild mushrooms in their mouths is dangerous.  Be aware that these plants may also be poisonous to pets.
  • Keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac in your home (do not use unless instructed to do so by your physician or the poison information center).
  • Keep a Poison Information Center number near your telephone.
  • Call your doctor or a poison information center as soon as the exposure occurs.   If asked to go to the emergency room take part of the plant, seeds, or berries with you to aid identification.
  • Never eat wild mushrooms and destroy mushrooms that appear in the yard.  Forage for your mushrooms in the produce department of your grocery store.
  • Learn more about the plants in your surroundings.

COMMON NAME INDEX:

Alamanda (Yellow)

Oleander

Rosary Pea

Selloum

BOTANICAL NAME INDEX:

Abrus Precatorious

Alamanda Cathartica

Nerium Oleander

Philodendron Selloum

Florida Poison Information Center
University Medical Center
University of Florida Health Science Center
655 West 8th Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209
Emergency Numbers: (904) 549-4465; (800) 282-3171 [FL only]

Florida Poison Information Center
University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
1611 NW 12th Avenue
Urgent Care Center Bldg., Rm. 219
Miami, FL 33136
Emergency Phone: (800) 282-3171 [FL Only]

The Florida Poison Information and Toxicology Resource Center
Tampa General Hospital
PO Box 1289
Tampa, FL 33601
Emergency Phone: (813) 256-4444 [Tampa only]; (800) 282-3171 [FL only]

 

©1999 Florida Gardener.  All Rights Reserved.

www.floridagardener.com

Last updated 10/17/07