Most Commonly Ingested Plants

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In its 1989 report, The Data Collection System of the AAPCC created a list of the 20 most frequently ingested plants. Not suprisingly, there is a strong correlation between the list and top sellers in the plant industry. Three of the listed plants genera, Toxicodendron, Phytolacca and Solanum are not commerically cultivated, but are extremely common in the wild.

These 20 plants are widely distributed on the continuum of toxic potential - from quite toxic to harmless - and thus show the full toxicity range of cultivated and wild plants. Interestingly, while for the most part the listed plants are from widely divergent genera, several of the listed genera, Philodendron, Dieffenbachia, Brassaia and Spathiphyllum, are from the same Arum (Araceae) family. The listed Arums, as well as many other plants from that family, tolerate the growing conditions in households well and thus are popular houseplants. Arums also frequently contain calcium oxalate raphides in substantial quantities, as do all the listed Arums.

Listed below are the AAPCC's "Top 20", common names by which these plants are known, the frequency of ingestion, active toxins (if any) and toxic effects. The title of each is the botanical name.

1. Philodendron spp.
   • Common Name: Philodendron
   • Frequency: 6,361
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Calcium oxalate raphides
   • Symptoms (if any): Burning sensation in lips, mouth, throat, contact dermatitis, remote risk of edematous swelling in back of mouth and throat, leading to closure of airways
2. Dieffenbachia spp.
   • Common Name: Diffenbachia, Dumbcane, Mother-in-Law Plant
   • Frequency: 4,049
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Calcium oxalate raphides, proteolytic enzymes
   • Symptoms (if any): Same as philodendron, bullae may form, speech may be impaired, superficial necrosis of tissue, keratoconjunctivitis
3. Euphorbia Pulcherrima
   • Common Name: Poinsettia
   • Frequency: 3,080
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Unknown, poss. terpenoids
   • Symptoms (if any): Poss. of contact dermatitis, mild nausea, emesis
4. Crassula spp.
   • Common Name: Jade Plant
   • Frequency: 2,601
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): None
   • Symptoms (if any): None
5. Ilex spp.
   • Common Name: Holly
   • Frequency: 2,397
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids
   • Symptoms (if any): Nausea, persistent emesis, diarrhea
6. Capsicum annuum
   • Common Name: Ornamental Pepper
   • Frequency: 2,304
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Capsaicin
   • Symptoms (if any): Painful but harmless burning sensation of lips, mouth, tongue
7. Brassaia and Schefflera spp
   • Common Name: Schefflera, Umbrella Plant
   • Frequency: 2,158
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Calcium oxalate raphides
   • Symptoms (if any): Same as philodendron
8. Toxicodendron radicans
   • Common Name: Poison Ivy
   • Frequency: 1,694
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Catechols
   • Symptoms (if any): Allergic contact dermatitis
9. Epipremnum aureum
   • Common Name: Pothos, Devil's Ivy, Variegated Philodendron
   • Frequency: 1,512
   • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Calcium oxalate raphides
   • Symptoms (if any): Same as philodendron
10. Pyracantha spp.
    • Common Name: Firethorn
    • Frequency: 1,467
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Probably none
    • Symptoms (if any): Probably none
11. Sainpaulia spp.
    • Common Name: African Violet
    • Frequency: 1,461
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): None
    • Symptoms (if any): None
12. Taxus spp.
    • Common Name: Yew
    • Frequency: 1,416
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Taxine alkaloids
    • Symptoms (if any): Dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, emesis, rash, cyanotic lips, weakness, poss. coma, bradycardia, arrhythmias, hypotension. Death has resulted.
13. Spathiphyllum spp.
    • Common Name: Peace Lily, Spathe Flower, White Anthurium
    • Frequency: 1,376
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Calcium oxalate raphides
    • Symptoms (if any): Same as philodendron
14. Phytolacca americana
    • Common Name: Pokeweed, Inkberry
    • Frequency: 1,290
    • Active Toxins (if any): Terpenoids
    • Symptoms (if any): Nausea, gastroenteric cramps, sweating, emesis, diarrhea
15. Solanum dulcamara
    • Common Name: Bittersweet, Climbing Nightshade
    • Frequency: 934
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Solanine alkaloids
    • Symptoms (if any): After latent period of several hours, gastric irritation, fever, diarrhea, all of which may persist for days. Deaths have resulted in children.
16. Ficus benjamina
    • Common Name: Ficus, Weeping fig
    • Frequency: 927
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): None
    • Symptoms (if any): None
17. Rhododendron spp.
    • Common Name: Rhododendron, Azalea
    • Frequency: 914
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Grayanotoxins and other resinoids
    • Symptoms (if any): Burning in mouth, salivation, emesis, diarrhea, skin prickling, headache, muscular weakness, dimness of vision, bradycardia, hypotension, coma, convulsions. Deaths have resulted.
18. Ficus elastica
    • Common Name: Rubber Plant, India Rubber Tree
    • Frequency: 883
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): None
    • Symptoms (if any): None
19. Begonia spp.
    • Common Name: Begonia
    • Frequency: 873
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Poss. alkaloids in some spp.
    • Symptoms (if any): Most spp. harmless, animal studies show deaths for a few spp.
20. Chrysanthemum spp.
    • Common Name: Mum, Chrysanthemum, Pomp
    • Frequency: 848
    • Active Toxin(s) (if any): Sesquiterpene lactones
    • Symptoms (if any): Allergic contact dermatitis, esp. among floral trade workers.

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