As adults know, pets and kids have not truly experienced something until they put it in their mouth.
Including the toxic leaves of your beloved heart-shaped philodendron.
That’s right. Many common indoor houseplants, including pothos and dieffenbachia, contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause mouth pain and stomach upset.
Ten months ago, Tommy Engström quit his job in ad sales, packed up his Chicago apartment and drove to Los Angeles.
July 24, 2018
Although it is hard to imagine your pets or kids nibbling on your dumb cane (named for the temporary speechlessness that can occur after tasting its stem), it is worth noting that it can cause “oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing,” according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Before you call poison control, keep in mind that eating toxic houseplants is not considered life-threatening. Still, it’s a good idea to keep them out of reach of small children and pets.
Here is a selection of safe houseplants for pets, according to the ASPCA online database.
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Lisa Boone is a features writer for the Los Angeles Times. Since 2003, she has covered home design, gardening, parenting, houseplants, even youth sports. She is a native of Los Angeles.