The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Poisonous plants

Many plants produce chemicals that are toxic to humans or other animals. These are often produced to protect the plant from browsing insects or mammals or from bacteria and fungi. In some cases the poisons protect the plant from competition with other plant species. Only rarely do these toxic chemicals affect humans but it is important to be able to recognise them so you can avoid using them in the garden and so you can educate your children not to eat them.

For a poison emergency in New Zealand call

0800 764 766 (New Zealand National Poisons Centre).

Follow these links for more information about poisonous plants:

• Poisonous native plants
• Poisonous garden plants
• Plants poisonous to animals
• Poisonous plants used as food

For more information about poisonous plants see*:

• List of poisonous plants (Wikipedia)
• Poisonous plants in New Zealand (Landcare Research)
• Plants poisonous to children (Landcare Research)
• Poisonous plants and fungi(Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ)
• Poisonous plants in New Zealand (RNZ Institute of Horticulture)
• Top 10 poisonous plants in New Zealand (National Poison Centre)

*The Network is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

This page last updated on 26 Feb 2013