While there are many plants that are perfectly harmless, some plants are extremely dangerous (either to touch or to ingest). It’s good to be aware of what plants, flowers, and leaves are poisonous, specifically to the Birmingham, Alabama area. Children, especially, should be watched carefully when they are outdoors. They are not old enough to understand which plants are dangerous!
If you or your child touch or ingest any of the following plants, call the Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222. If you have any of these plants in your yard and would like to get rid of them, call AWP Services at 205-577-9664 so that we can safely and effectively remove them from your property.
| Common Name: Aloe |  | Common Name: Azalea |  |
| Botanical Name: Aloe Vera | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Rhododendron asalea | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Bitter Sweet |  | Common Name: Black Locust |  |
| Botanical Name: Solanum dulcamara | Poisonous Parts: leaves and fruit | Botanical Name: Robinia psuedoacacia | Poisonous Parts: seeds, bark, foliage |
| Common Name: Boxwood |  | Common Name: Buckthorn |  |
| Botanical Name: Buxus sempervirens | Poisonous Parts: leaves, stems | Botanical Name: Rhamnus cathartica | Poisonous Parts: fruit, leaves, bark |
| Common Name: Calamondim Orange |  | Common Name: Castor |  |
| Botanical Name: Citris mitis | Poisonous Parts: fruit peels, thorns | Botanical Name: Ricinis communis | Poisonous Parts: seeds |
| Common Name: China Berry |  | Common Name: Chokecherry |  |
| Botanical Name: Melia azedarach | Poisonous Parts: berries | Botanical Name: Prunus virginiana | Poisonous Parts: seed or pit |
| Common Name: Cotoneaster |  | Common Name: Crocus |  |
| Botanical Name: Cotoneaster | Poisonous Parts: fruit, berries | Botanical Name: Colchicum autumnale | Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially bulb |
| Common Name: Cyclamen |  | Common Name: Daffodil |  |
| Botanical Name: Cyclamen species | Poisonous Parts: tuber, root | Botanical Name: Narcissus species | Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially bulb |
| Common Name: Deadly Nightshade |  | Common Name: Dogbane |  |
| Botanical Name: Atropa belladona | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Apocynum cannabinum | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Dumbcane |  | Common Name: Elderberry |  |
| Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia species | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Sambucus species | Poisonous Parts: Ieaves, shoots, bark |
| Common Name: Elephant Ear |  | Common Name: Engleman Ivy (Virginia Creeper) |  |
| Botanical Name: Xanthosoma species | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Parthenocissus quinguefolia | Poisonous Parts: berries |
| Common Name: Eyebane |  | Common Name: Four o’ clock |  |
| Botanical Name: Euphorbia maculata | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Mirabilis jalapa root | Poisonous Parts: seeds |
| Common Name: Foxglove |  | Common Name: Ground Ivy |  |
| Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea | Poisonous Parts: Ieaves, seeds | Botanical Name: Glecoma hederacea | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Holly |  | Common Name: Horsechesnut – Buckeye |  |
| Botanical Name: Ilex aquifolium | Poisonous Parts: leaves, berries | Botanical Name: Aesculus species | Poisonous Parts: flowers, sprouts, nuts |
| Common Name: Hyacinth |  | Common Name: Hydrangea |  |
| Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis | Poisonous Parts: bulb | Botanical Name: Hydrangea species | Poisonous Parts: leaves, buds |
| Common Name: Iris |  | Common Name: Jequirity Bean |  |
| Botanical Name: Iris missouriensis | Poisonous Parts: bulbs, stems, leaves | Botanical Name: Abrus precatorius bean | Poisonous Parts: beans, if chewed |
| Common Name: Jerusalem Cherry |  | Common Name: Jimson Weed |  |
| Botanical Name: Aloe Vera | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Datura stramonium | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Juniper |  | Common Name: Kentucky Coffee Tree |  |
| Botanical Name: Juniperus virginiana | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Gymnocladus dioica | Poisonous Parts: seeds |
| Common Name: Larkspur |  | Common Name: Lilly of the Valley |  |
| Botanical Name: Delphinium species | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Convallaria majalis | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Mistletoe |  | Common Name: Night Blooming Jessamine |  |
| Botanical Name: Phoradendrom flavescens | Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially berries | Botanical Name: Cestrum nocturnum | Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially berries |
| Common Name: Nightshade |  | Common Name: Oak |  |
| Botanical Name: Solanum species | Poisonous Parts: Ieaves, berries, green fruit | Botanical Name: Quercus species | Poisonous Parts: raw acorns, young shoots |
| Common Name: Oleander |  | Common Name: Philodendron |  |
| Botanical Name: Thevetia peruviana | Poisonous Parts: All parts, especially seeds | Botanical Name: Philodendron | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Poison Hemlock |  | Common Name: Poison Ivy |  |
| Botanical Name: Conium maculatum | Poisonous Parts: All parts, especially roots | Botanical Name: Rhus radicans | Poisonous Parts: Sap from all parts |
| Common Name: Poison Sumac |  | Common Name: Pokeweed |  |
| Botanical Name: Rhus Vernix | Poisonous Parts: Sap from all parts | Botanical Name: Phytolacca americana | Poisonous Parts: All parts |
| Common Name: Snow on the Mountain |  | Common Name: Tomato |  |
| Botanical Name: Euphoria marginata | Poisonous Parts: All parts | Botanical Name: Solanaceae | Poisonous Parts: Leaves |
| Common Name: Tulip, blue |  | Common Name: Water hemlock |  |
| Botanical Name: Anemone patens | Poisonous Parts: Whole plant, especially bulbs | Botanical Name: Cicuta douglasii | Poisonous Parts: all parts, especially roots |
| Common Name: Yews |  |
| Botanical Name: Taxus species | Poisonous Parts: All parts |