Ask anyone about poison plants and they will begin talking about poison ivy or poison oak. Everyone knows that these plants cause irritation of the skin. There are horror stories of scratching nightmares. But, are we really familiar with the plants in our landscape which are considered poisonous?

I think many people are surprised to learn that plants like boxwood, azaleas, and hydrangeas are known to have poisonous properties. I hope the awareness of these plants by responsible adults will help protect young children, family pets, and mentally challenged individuals.

I do not want to scare you away from these plants, but make you think about who might be affected by the plants in your landscape.

Always remember that poisonous doesn't mean fatal, but there are some physical effects like nausea, stomachaches, vomiting, diarrhea, or breathing problems. The severity of the poison on an individual takes into consideration weight, health, age of the person, along with how much plant material was eaten and what part of the plant was eaten.

A few common plants like holly have berries that are toxic. Lantana, one of my favorites, has toxic fruit. The popular evergreen "Yew" has toxic berries and foliage. The oak leaf hydrangea's leaves and bark are toxic. All the parts of the elephant ear are toxic. The cherry also has toxic leaves, bark and seeds.

This is only a few of the plants that may be poisonous in your landscape. The awareness of these potential poisons will hopefully make you watch your visitors or family members closer while they are around your plants. I also hope to motivate you to learn more about the potential poisons around your home. Practicing a little prevention will keep everyone safe. So enjoy the landscape, but watch closely your visitors – both animal and people.