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Plant Safety

Do You Know What You're Growing?

By Jenny Rackley

There are some simple precautions you can take to help minimize the risk of an accidental poisoning in your home.

1. Know exactly what plants you have. If you have to call a poison control center (1-800-222-1222), you should know the scientific or Latin name of the plant that was ingested. If you can't identify the plant, they will advise you as if it were the worst poison, and perhaps your child will have his or her stomach pumped unnecessarily. Common names are not enough. Different plants can have the same common name, and common names for the same plant can vary among different regions of the country.

2. Label your plants with a permanent label. If you are not around, any adult who calls the poison control center should be able to identify the plant. I put the names on the same kinds of ties they use for bulk foods at the supermarket, and tied them around the plant. Writing the name on a stake is nice, but a 3-year-old may pull up all your stakes.

3. Teach children to eat only what you say is OK. My children asked me if the red berries on a bush were strawberries. Even if they don't look like foods they know, children will often sample berries, flowers and leaves. Very young children put everything in their mouths, so should be carefully supervised outside and in.

4. Get rid of highly toxic plants. Give poisonous plants away, or bring them to an office environment where children won't be present. Exchange toxic gift plants for child-safe plants. Remember that two philodendron leaves can kill a small child. I don't keep medicine or household cleaners around where my children can reach. Plants should be treated with the same caution. Putting plants up high is fine in some cases, but plants do drop leaves, which a child can pick up and eat. It may not be feasible to remove all your shrubbery, but create a child-safe play area away from the most hazardous plants.

Want to see more?

• Accidental Poisonings: 6 Things You Need to Know Now
• Leaves of Three: Dealing with Poison Ivy
• Too Many Toxins: Keeping Poisons Away from Curious Hands
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