Vegetation is important not only for sustenance of life on this planet but it also has an important part to play in maintaining the fragile ecological balance. Vegetation has a huge role to play in reducing pollution levels as well. Different plants and herbs form an integral part of our daily diet, however there are certain plants that can cause grave harm to our body if these are consumed. There are as many as 700 different types of poisonous plants in the United States alone. These plants grow in the wild and so care should be taken before any such plant is consumed. Certain plants such as the poison ivy can cause irritation to the skin if these are touched. Some plants have a toxic smell and can cause irritation to the airway while there are some harmful plants that can cause much damage if they are ingested. Some plants may have certain parts such as the branches, leaves or seeds that are poisonous. Some poisonous herbs can cause grave illnesses if these are consumed in large proportions while other plants are particularly poisonous for animals and can cause massive health problems in these animals.

List of Different Poisonous Plants

Poisonous House Plants

• Dieffenbachia
• Philodendron
• Elephant's ear
• Caladium
• Pencil tree
• Poinsettia
• Crown-of-thorns
• Snow-on-the-mountain
• Jerusalem cherry
• Aloe
• Castor bean
• English ivy
• Calla lily
• Bird of paradise
• Carolina jessamine

Poisonous Flowering Plants

• Autumn crocus
• Bleeding heart
• Azalea
• Chrysanthemum
• Foxglove
• Jonquil
• Daffodil (Bulb)
• Hyacinth (Bulb)
• Iris
• Lily of the valley
• Larkspur
• Narcissus (Bulb)
• Pothos
• Sunflower (Poisonous if consumed in large amounts)
• Sweet pea
• Morning glory
• Aconite
• Baneberry
• Nicotiana

Poisonous Herbs

• Horsetail
• Chamomile
• Juniper berries
• Ginseng (Root)
• Nutmeg (Oil)
• Sassafras (Oil from the bark and the roots)
• Shave grass
• Pennyroyal (Oil)
• Sweet Woodruff
• Atropa belladonna
• Bloodroot
• Death camas
• False Flax
• Field peppergrass

Poisonous Trees, Vines, Shrubs and other Poisonous Plants

• Azalea
• Boxwood
• Daphne (Berries)
• Hemlock
• Black Locust
• Burning bush (Berries)
• Holly (Berries)
• Hydrangea
• Elderberry
• Horse chestnut
• Mountain laurel
• Oleander
• Oak tree
• Wisteria
• Lantana
• Privet (Leaves and berries)
• Virginia creeper
• Yew
• Rhododendron
• Apple, crab apple and pear seeds (If consumed in large proportion these can be harmful)
• Potatoes (Roots, vines and sprouts are harmful)
• Tomato (Stems and leaves)
• Rhubarb (Leaves and roots)
• Nightshade
• Chokecherry seeds
• Bittersweet (Fruit)
• Indian tobacco
• Buttercups
• Jack in the pulpit (Fruit)
• May apple
• Poison hemlock
• Poison sumac
• Poison ivy
• Jimson weed (Thornapple)
• Mistletoe (Berries)
• Poison oak
• Pokeweed
• Skunk cabbage
• Water hemlock
• Pokeberry
• Foxtail Barley
• Common Burdock
• Tansy
• Ergot
• Milkweed
• Stinging Nettle
• Cocklebur
• Marijuana
• Spurges
• Kleingrass
• Bouncing Bet
• Red Oak
• Caley pea
• Catnip
• Dumbcane (Aroids)
• Easter Lilly
• Lupine
• Christmas Plant (Poinsettia)
• Hoary Assylum
• Alsike Clover
• Fescue
• Dutchman’s breeches
• Red Maple
• White Snakeroot
• Bracken fern
• Green False Hellebore
• Senecio Ragwort
• Locoweed
• Star of Bethlehem
• St. Johnswort
• Johnsongrass
• Black Walnut
• Arrowgrasses
• Box
• Buckeye
• Chinaberry tree
• Chockcherries
• Corn cockle
• Cow cockle
• Cowbane
• Cowslip
• European bittersweet
• Jatropha
• Manchineel tree
• Matrimony vine
• Monkshood
• Mountain mahogany
• Rattle box
• Rosary pea
• Sago palm
• Smartweeds
• Snow on the mountain
• Sorghum
• Wild radish

While this list of toxic plants is not completely exhaustive it does include the most common toxic plants that can be identified and are commonly found in many areas.