Why a Poison Guide?

Would you leave a jar of cyanide on your kitchen counter? A box of rat poison on the living room floor? A pile of arsenic on your front porch? Of course not. But your yard might be full of things that are just as dangerous — plants you cheerfully walk past every day.

Ever since I was little and my mom warned me away from certain plants at the garden center, I’ve been fascinated by how many common species people put in their houses or grow in their flowerbeds could actually kill them. From daffodil bulbs in the spring to festive Christmas poinsettias, people surround themselves with toxins without even knowing it. Kids and pets accidentally consume poisonous berries and flowers all the time, and even experienced foragers sometimes pick the wrong mushroom or leaf and pay the price.

You might think you’re safe because you don’t plan to snack on your landscaping, but plants are sneaky. Some are toxic to the touch. Others will harm you if you burn and inhale them. While many will only cause trouble if you consume them, some look alarmingly similar to safe, edible plants.

The best way to stay safe is to know your poisons so you can avoid them.