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Description

There are many plants that can cause dermatitis. This fact sheet provides introductory information about how plants cause skin irritation or injury and includes a list of some plants that cause such problems.

Why Be Concerned?

It is important for gardeners and homeowners to understand that certain indoor and garden plants can have adverse effects if handled. Some plants can be phototoxic, cause mechanical or chemical injury or can trigger an allergy response. Knowing which plants have this potential will help you to protect yourself and your children.

How can plants cause skin irritation or injury?

Plants have several ways of causing skin irritation or dermatitis.

• Photodermatitis: Some plants are phototoxic, causing the skin to be hypersensitive to sunlight. Skin irritation occurs soon after exposure to these plants and subsequent exposure to sunlight. This reaction is usually seasonal.
• Allergic contact dermatitis: This occurs in people who have developed an allergy to a plant after repeated contact (e.g. florists who work with the cut flower, Alstromeria or flower bulb workers processing tulips during peeling, sorting and packaging tasks).
• Mechanical injury: Contact with thorns, bristles, hairs, etc. can cause lacerations and rashes.
• Chemical irritation: This occurs through contact with resins including oils found on the surface of a plant and with latex, a sappy substance found in the stems and leaves of plants such as spurges (Euphorbia spp.). Sensitivity to resins (e.g. urushiol in poison ivy - Toxicodendron radicans) can vary from person to person. An estimated 75 to 85 per cent of the population is allergic to urushiol. For reasons scientists cannot explain, the body's immune system can suddenly develop allergic reactions. Without warning, a once-resistant person can become susceptible, or vice versa. (See Fact Sheet on Poison Ivy.)

Plants that Cause Dermatitis:

Following is a list of some plants that can cause irritation or injury. Both botanical and common names are provided for each plant. The parts of the plant that can cause skin irritation are also identified

Considerations

Because there are so many plants that can cause skin problems, you are encouraged to find out if any plant in their garden or home, or any that you want to add, has the potential for causing skin irritation. Become knowledgable about how a plant can cause skin irritation or injury. Remember that the list above is not an exhaustive list.

Remember that contact with plants can happen away from your home.

Consider always using garden gloves while gardening or handling plants. Use gloves that will prevent the transfer of sap etc. to your hands and protect your hands from potentially injurious plant parts.

Teach your children to enjoy plants without touching them (e.g. enjoy by viewing them or enjoying their fragrance).

If you experience skin irritation or injury, that you think may be due to plant contact, remember to take a sample of the plant to your doctor or allergist.

Refer to the Fact Sheets related to Poisonous Plants and Poison Ivy for further reading.

References

The Toronto Botanical Garden Weston Family Library is an excellent source for horticultural information.

• Hardin, James, W. and Jay M Arena M.D. Human Poisoning from Native and Cultivated Plants. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1996
• Lampe, Kenneth R. and Mary Ann McCann. AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants. Chicago, Illinois: American Medical Association, 1985
• Turner, Nancy and Adam F.Szczawinski. Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, 1995
• Tampion, John. Dangerous Plants. N.Y. New York: Universe Press, 1977

Factsheets are produced by the Toronto Master Gardeners in association with the Toronto Botanical Garden. They provide introductory information about a broad range of horticultural topics and are intended for personal use and study purposes. Should your gardening group or organization wish to use multiple copies we ask that you inform the Toronto Botanical Garden at info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.

Date revised: August 6, 2010