If you’re considering other plants, or using any of the following plants for animals from a different natural habitat, please cross-check them against Harmful & Poisonous Plants, Plants Causing Mechanical Injury, and Edible Ornamental Plants lists and other toxicity resources available on- and off-line. We spoke with a director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and two other veterinarians to identify the most common poisonous plants for dogs. This means that if ingested they are not toxic to humans. However, those ferns that live in your living room or dining room may very well be poisonous houseplants for dogs. Related Questions: Are ferns poisonous to cats? Another thing you can do is to hide the soil. Ferns are beautiful plants for house or garden, but if you have young children be aware that while some ferns are edible, others are poisonous. Arm yourself with knowledge of the toxic plants common in your area and what you can do to prevent contact with your precious feline babies. Select only non-poisonous fern plants for your home and yard. Hopefully we’ve helped you with your question are birds nest ferns poisonous? This plant grows... Staghorn Fern (Platycerium Sp.). It grows to 5 feet in height in the damp soil of forest areas. Also known as Boston swordfern, the Boston fern (Nephrolepis exalta) is another wood fern. The Boston fern, or sword fern, is among the most common house ferns. Fern Plants that are Not Poisonous to Children Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exalta). Abutilon spp. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Univ. According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, it belongs to the Aspleniaceae, or spleenwort, family and it is a perennial fern that is native to Hawaii. Others can hurt you if you get them on your skin. Ontario Ferns states that even "edible" ferns contain small levels of carcinogens and should only be consumed in small amounts. Coral tree (Erythrina genus) The leaves, bark and seeds are poisonous. For some plants, all parts of the plant are poisonous. In addition to not being toxic to ingest, touching a birds nest fern and handling the foliage shouldn’t do any harm to your skin or cause flares up in eczema or other skin conditions. So even though these plants aren’t poisonous hopefully you now have a useful way to stop your pets from eating your plants, because even if it’s not harmful to them, you still don’t want a plant full of tiny teeth marks or to lose leaves victim to another hunting from your cat. Brightening up your home with houseplants is common. Cats can climb on shelves and jump onto windowsills so finding somewhere out of the way of your cats might seem impossible but what a cat will struggle to get to is a hanging basket. Obviously you shouldn’t be eating houseplants as they’re not good for your digestive system but they aren’t toxic plants. Varieties. First of all, one thing you can do is to change the placement of your plants. The wispy fronds of the Boston fern are often enticing toys to cats and kittens. If this is the case them make the soil unappealing. Birds Nest Ferns are also not toxic for dogs and cats. Still, some plants can definitely be dangerous to children. If … "; Bracken, Pteridium aquilinum, found worldwide (Toxic if not cooked fully); Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, found in northern regions worldwide, and the central/eastern part of North America (Health Warning) Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. So your birds nest fern isn’t toxic to your pets but you still don’t want them being eaten and ruining the foliage. According to the USDA, it is nontoxic and grows year-round as an erect single stem that is 8 to 12 feet tall at maturity. Ferns grow well in indirect sunlight exposure. "The young ferns are quite tasty, a bit like asparagus with almonds," says Holm Rasmussen. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) is a non-toxic perennial fern that belongs to the Osmundaceae, or flowering fern, family. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reported that in 2017, 5 percent of all calls were related to pets ingesting plants toxic to them, making it ninth on their list of the top 10 pet toxins. Jade Plant (Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant, Japanese rubber plant) | Scientific Names: Crassula argentea | Family: Crassulaceae . Royal fern is native to the eastern half of North America. Non-Poisonous Fern Plants for Children. Many people enjoy the beauty of ferns and the fact that they are very easy to maintain. Naima Manal's articles on health, diet, nutrition, alternative medicine, education, parenting, crafts, travel, home and garden and home improvement have appeared on various websites. Boston ferns prefer a humid environment and indirect sunlight. So if a pet wandering around the house will affect your decisions on which house plant to buy then this one could be the perfect one for you. Again just like for humans you don’t want your pets to be eating your house plants but if they take a nibble it shouldn’t be dangerous for them. Choose something with a strong scent that will not damage your plant and add it to a bottle of water. Pictures of many of these are available in Cornell University's Poisonous Plant Database. It grows between 10 and 23 feet tall. Required fields are marked *. If you haven't done so already, call a toxin information center, or failing that, grab your kid and head for an ER. It is a perennial fern native to Nebraska, Texas, Louisiana and Florida, as well as Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) is a non-toxic perennial fern that belongs to the Osmundaceae, or flowering fern, family. Finally change the taste of your plants. Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links meaning I receive a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to yourself. According to the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, the Hawaii birdnest fern (Asplenium nidus) is also non-toxic. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, you can call the ASPCA 24 hours a day. Ferns of many types are very popular house plants, both indoor and outdoor. This should act as a good deterrent for your hungry cat. Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) is a non-toxic fern whose fiddleheads--sprouting new fern plants--are considered edible, according to Ontario Ferns. For others, only certain parts of the plant are harmful. Better be safe than sorry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists this fern as palatable to humans. Don’t worry, they are some things you can do to make your plants seems less appealing to your furry friends without damaging them. If your cat likes to nibble away at your plants then this could be because they like the taste of the leaves. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! They look beautiful while hanging from baskets, and they can be summered on your porch. Poisonous houseplants can cause skin irritations, stomach upsets, and burning of the mouth and throat. Highly poisonous plants: plants to destroy or remove. Filed Under: Birds Nest Fern, Ferns, Houseplant tips, Your email address will not be published. The toxic agent in the plant is sapogenin — a steroid found in a variety of plants. The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension lists Boston fern as non-toxic. Indoor Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs Poisonous indoor plants for dogs. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. 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