Toxic Garden Plants: 8 Common Poisonous Plants to Watch For

Beautiful garden plants can harbor deadly toxicity. Here are eight common but highly poisonous garden plants:

Common Toxic Garden Plants

Rhododendron – Nectar of certain types (especially R. ponticum) is so toxic that nearby honey becomes dangerous. Leaves are less toxic. Azaleas (same family) may also have toxic nectar.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) – One of the most poisonous home garden plants. Even minor ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Larger amounts cause irregular/slowed heartbeat, potentially fatal.

Rhubarb – Stalks are edible and delicious; leaves are extremely toxic, potentially fatal. Symptoms: respiratory distress, mouth/throat burning, internal bleeding, confusion, coma.

Larkspur (Delphinium) – Ingesting any part, especially seeds/young leaves, rapidly causes nausea, vomiting, slowed heartbeat; sometimes fatal.

Angel's Trumpet (Datura stramonium) – Also called jimsonweed, locoweed, devil's trumpet. Hallucinogenic but overdose common. Symptoms: abnormal thirst, distorted vision, delirium, coma; potentially fatal.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) – All parts toxic: blooms, twigs, leaves, pollen. Causes nasal/oral/ocular watering, severe GI distress, slowed heartbeat, respiratory difficulty; can lead to paralysis, convulsions, coma.

English Yew – Reportedly one of the world's deadliest trees. All parts except berries are so toxic that tiny amounts can stop the heart.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) – Common, toxic, sometimes deadly. Any part ingestion causes stomach cramps.

Exercise caution with these plants, especially around children and pets.