• Keep all houseplants out of young children's reach.
• Know the names of all your plants, both indoors and outdoors.  Label each of your plants with the correct botanical name.
• Mushrooms and berries are particularly attractive to young children. Teach your children never to put mushrooms, berries, or any part of a plant including leaves, flowers, stems, bulbs, or seeds in their mouths.
• Mushrooms are especially abundant after a rainfall.  Remove mushrooms from your yard and dispose of properly after each rainfall.
• Do not assume a plant is not poisonous because birds or wildlife eat it.
• Do not rely on cooking to destroy toxic chemicals in plants.
• Never use anything prepared from nature as a medicine or tea.
• If you suspect a poisoning, call your local poison control center immediately.  Poison information specialists are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  Do not wait for symptoms to appear; symptoms may often be delayed.

A word about pets....

Young children are not the only ones who like plants!  Pets, especially cats and dogs, also frequently ingest plants.  In fact, of all the pet related called received by the Minnesota Poison Control System, about 20 percent involve a plant.

If a plant is known to be poisonous to humans, it's a safe bet it can also be harmful to your pet.  On the other hand, because a plant is listed as nontoxic, does not mean it will not have any ill effects on animals.  Nontoxic plants can often cause vomiting and other related symptoms in dogs and especially cats.  Do not hesitate to call your local poison control center if you suspect your pet may have ingested a toxic plant.  

NONTOXIC
(SAFE, NOT POISONOUS)
The following plants are considered to be non-toxic.  However, any plant may cause unexpected reactions in certain individuals, including choking.  Always check with your local poison control center if a plant has been ingested.

CAUTION
(MILDLY TOXIC)
The following plants may be mildly toxic or may easily be confused with toxic plants.  However, since they are only mildly poisonous, they can be kept around children with some precautions.  We recommend calling your local poison control center if a child or animal consumes a portion of any of the following plants.

TOXIC
(DANGEROUS, POISONOUS) 
The Following plants are considered toxic.  If any portion of the following plants is ingested, call your local poison control center or take your child to an emergency room IMMEDIATELY.