Skip to main content

PLEASE NOTE:
"Poisonous" does not mean deadly. Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. The dose, as always, determines if a plant is safe source of nutrients or a toxic hazard.

Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions

Simple keyword search (one or two words only)

 


BRIEF: Could you give me some information on these succulents?


QUESTION:
I have a bowl of mixed succulents. I cannot find any information about these plants and I am concerned that they may be poisonous to my 1 yr old. The main one in the bowl grows long strands (from sprouts to 24" long) that have fat little bright green "leaves" about 1/4" long and almost round. When the "leaves" drop from the strands, they root pretty quickly allowing that plant to take over most of the bowl. The other plant in the bowl grows similar strands, though not as long, and the leaves are shaped more like a diamond. They have more of a red color and are larger than the other plants. I wish I had more information, but the web sites I have checked out do not have photos of this type of succulent. These succulents came from a local nursery about 7 years ago and have grown like mad over the years.

ANSWER:

Many, if not most, house plants have some toxic principle. Usually, it is limited to the painful, irritating, but rarely fatal calcium oxide raphides such as those found in Dieffenbachia or Philodendron (and many others). Sometimes it can be more serious. If I were you, I would put your plants up high where kids can not get to them, at least until you have identified the plants and checked them out.