Hazardous Plants and Shrubs - Treescape guide to
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Treescape® guide to Hazardous Plants and Shrubs
Euphorbia sp.
Characteristics: Mitigation:
> Looks like cactus > Gloves and wrist to ankle cover
> White, milky, latex-like sap that is > Facemask / respirator
poisonous > Safety glasses
> Do not chip
Allergens:
First Aid:
> Breathing in dust can cause severe
anaphylactic reaction > If any symptoms present seek
> Severe skin irritant – can cause medical advice
rash or blisters > Wash affected area with cold
> Can cause eye damage or running water immediately
blindness > Take a photo of the plant if you
suspect poisoning and take it to
the doctor
1 
Caryota Sp. (Fishtail Plams)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
> Leaves have a fishtail shape > Gloves and wrist to ankle cover
> Facemask / respirator
Allergens:
> Safety glasses
> The whole plant contains needle- > Do not chip
like calcium oxalate crystals which
First Aid:
if chewed or eaten can produce a
burning sensation in the mouth. > If any symptoms present seek
> Skin contact can result in burning, medical advice
itching and dermatitis. > Use soft brush on the skin to
> If dust is inhaled it could cause remove oxalate crystals
respiratory discomfort
2 
Brazillian pepper tree (Schinus spp)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Evergreen tree, grows to 15m • Gloves and wrist to ankle cover
• Bright pink to red fruits • Facemask / respirator
• Leaves smell peppery when • Safety glasses
crushed • Avoid contact with sap on bare
skin
Allergens:
First Aid:
• Skin contact with sap can result in
burning, itching and dermatitis • If any symptoms present seek
• If dust is inhaled it could cause medical advice
respiratory discomfort • Wash affected area with cold
running water and soap
• Avoid direct sunlight on affected
area
3 
Fig trees (Ficus spp)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Evergreen tree • Gloves
• Large leaves, green on top and • Safety glasses
hairy bronze on the bottom • Avoid contact with sap on bare
• Milky latex like sap skin
Allergens: First Aid:
• Skin contact with sap can result in • If any symptoms present seek
burning, itching and dermatitis medical advice
• If dust from leaves is inhaled it • Wash affected area with cold
could cause respiratory running water and soap
discomfort • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
area
4 
Box (Buxus sempervirens)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Evergreen shrub, usually used for • Gloves
hedges • Safety glasses
• Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens:
First Aid:
• Farm stock, especially cattle are
said to have grazed box bushes if • If any symptoms present seek
they get into gardens medical advice
• Death may occur through • Wash affected area with cold
respiratory failure in animals running water and soap
• Contact can cause skin rashes and • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
the clippings should be handled area
with care
5 
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Shrub • Gloves
• Glossy palmate leaves • Safety glasses
• Dark green to purple leaves • Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens: First Aid:
• The broken mottled seeds are • If any symptoms present seek
highly toxic if ingested. medical advice
• A severe allergic reaction in • Wash affected area with cold
certain individuals following skin running water and soap
contact with broken seeds • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
• The toxic principle is ricin, a area
phytotoxalbumin, plus ricinine, an • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
alkaloid 766
• Symptoms can be immediate or
delayed. They are nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody
diarrhoea, depression, trembling,
weating, convulsions and coma;
may be fatal.
6 
Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Shrub or tree to 10m • Gloves
• Evergreen • Safety glasses
• Flowers on long spikes rather than • Do not ingest
clusters
First Aid:
Allergens:
• Seek medical advice immediately
• P. laurocerasus poisonous parts if ingested
are the wilted leaves, twigs • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
(stems) and seeds if ingested due 766
to cyanogenic glycoside,
amygdalin
• Symptoms are gasping, weakness,
excitement, pupil dilation, spasms,
convulsions, coma and respiratory
failure; may be fatal.
7 
Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)
• They may include loss of appetite,
vomiting, constipation or
diarrhoea, bloody faeces, stomach
Characteristics: pain, pulmonary congestion,
cardiac arrest, rigidity, lack of
• Shrub or tree to 10m coordination and general
• Evergreen weakness
• Flowers on long spikes rather than • Death may take place after about
clusters 24 hours. 6 to 8 fruits have been
Allergens: reported to cause death in young
children
• The yellow fruit is poisonous if • The leaves are also toxic and
eaten by humans and animals deadly to grazing animals
although many birds seem partial
to them and are not affected. Mitigation:
• Tranortriterpenes have been • Gloves
isolated and identified as the main • Safety glasses
toxic constituents of the fruit • Do not ingest
• The poisonous fruit is toxic to
humans and some other First Aid:
mammals. Pigs are the most
• Seek medical attention
susceptible
immediately if ingested
• In humans, the first symptoms of
• Call the poison Centre 0800 764
poisoning appear a few hours
766
after ingestion
8 
Five Finger or Whauwhaupaku (Pseudopanax arboreus)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Shrub or small tree to 8m • Gloves
• Evergreen • Safety glasses
• 5-7 leaflets • Be careful when handling
• Purplish black berries in autumn
Allergens:
First Aid:
• Some people may have a skin
reaction as it is part of the ivy • If any symptoms present seek
family medical advice
• Parts of the plant are poisonous if • Wash affected area with cold
ingested running water and soap
• Avoid direct sunlight on affected
area
9
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Evergreen climbing plant, growing • Gloves
to 20–30 m • Safety glasses
• Or growing as ground cover • Do not ingest
• Wrist to ankle cover
Allergens:
• Avoid contact with bare skin
• All parts are poisonous including
First Aid:
the berries
• The toxic principles are • If any symptoms present seek
triterpenoid saponins and medical advice
polyacetylene compounds which • Wash affected area with cold
when ingested will give the running water and soap
following symptoms, burning • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
sensation of throat, delirium, area
stupor, convulsions,
hallucinations, fever, and rash
• Severe skin irritation with
redness, itching, and blisters
following contact with cell sap
10 Jasmine, Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Evergreen climbing plant • Gloves
• Or growing as ground cover • Safety glasses
• Do not ingest
Allergens:
• Wrist to ankle cover
• Star Jasmine is a member of the • Avoid contact with bare skin
milkweed family
First Aid:
• The entire plant is considered
mildly poisonous and should not • If any symptoms present seek
be consumed medical advice
• Handling plant may cause skin • Wash affected area with cold
irritation or allergic reaction due running water and soap
to its milk-like sap • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
• Beware this milk will stain clothes area
black
11
Moth Vine or Cruel Vine (Araujia sericifera)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Araujia sericifera is a creeping vine • Gloves
that can climb up to 5–7 metres or • Safety glasses
growing as ground cover • Do not ingest
• The pear-shaped fruits are large • Wrist to ankle cover
pods, about 8–10 centimetres • Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens:
First Aid:
• This serious weed pest has as a
white latex in all parts of the plant • If any symptoms present seek
that is poisonous medical advice
• Contact with its milky sap causes • Wash affected area with cold
skin and eyes irritations, and running water and soap
occasionally even severe allergic • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
reactions in susceptible people area
12 Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Characteristics: • Poisoning has occurred when
using oleander sticks for sausage
• A shrub or small tree and marshmallow roasts and
• Oleander grows to 2–6 m (6.6– drinking water in which the
19.7 ft) tall, with erect stems that flowers have been placed
splay outward
Mitigation:
Allergens:
• Gloves
• Oleander is one of the most • Safety glasses
dangerous poisonous plants. If • Do not ingest
this plant is being burnt the • Wrist to ankle cover
smoke is toxic • Avoid contact with bare skin
• The whole plant is highly toxic due
to the cardiac glycosides
oleandrin, neriine, known for their
First Aid:
powerful effect on the heart
• Oleander causes intense • If any symptoms present seek
abdominal pain, vomiting, medical advice
diarrhoea, drowsiness, dizziness, • Wash affected area with cold
visual disturbances, rapid pulse, running water and soap
an irregular heartbeat and heart • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
malfunction, often causing death area
• The sap if in contact with the skin
can cause dermatitis, blistering,
irritation and soreness
13
Privet (Ligustrum several species)
• low blood pressure, cold and
Characteristics: clammy skin possibly lasting 48 to
• A shrub or small tree 72 hours
• Purplish black seeds, glossy leaves • The pollen might be irritable for
• Smooth green bark those with allergies and the
heavy, cloying scent of the
Allergens: flowers can cause distress for
those who can't tolerate heavy
• The highly toxic parts of this plant fragrances
are the leaves and the berries and
should be handled with care Mitigation:
• There are even reports of
• Gloves
fatalities in children who have
consumed the berries • Safety glasses
• The toxic principles are the • Do not ingest
glycosides: syringin (ligustrin), • Avoid contact with bare skin
shikimic acid First Aid:
• Symptoms after ingestion are
abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, • Seek immediate medical attention
diarrhoea, headache, weakness, if ingested
• Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
766
• Antihistamine can relieve
symptoms of allergic reaction
14 Rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda)
Characteristics: body, and could be a potential
cause of cancer. Pyrrolizidine
• A small, bushy tree or tall alkaloidosis is known as "Winton
shrub endemic to New Zealand. Disease" in New Zealand.
• It grows to a height of 5 to 7
metres tall Mitigation:
Allergens: • Gloves
• Safety glasses
• All parts of this tree are highly
• Do not ingest
poisonous
• The hepatotoxic substance a
pyrrolizidine alkaloid is especially
First Aid:
concentrated in the growing tips,
flowers and the sap • Seek immediate medical attention
• Poisoning causes Pyrrolizidine if ingested
alkaloidosis and can result in • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
damage to the liver, kidneys, 766
heart, brain, smooth muscles,
lungs, DNA, lesions all over the
15
Silky Oak (Grevillia robusta)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• A medium to large tree. • Gloves
• It grows to a height of 5 to 40 • Safety glasses
metres tall • Do not ingest
• Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens:
First Aid:
• Contains a chemical called
resorcinol which can cause severe • If any symptoms present seek
skin irritation on exposure medical advice
• Wash affected area with cold
running water and soap
• Avoid direct sunlight on affected
area
16 Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• A medium shrub • Gloves
• It grows to a height of 5 to 7 • Safety glasses
metres tall • Do not ingest
• Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens:
First Aid:
• Contact with sap from stems
shoots and leaves can cause • If any symptoms present seek
inflammation and irritation to medical advice
some people • Wash affected area with cold
running water and soap
• Avoid direct sunlight on affected
area
17
Tree Nettle (Urtica ferox)
Characteristics: caused by histamine, acetylcholine
and 5-hydroxytryptamine
• A medium shrub • The Poisonous Plants in New
• It grows to a height of 1 to 3 Zealand, mentions a group of
metres tall trampers who developed loss of
• The leaves and stalks have coordination for three days after
numerous white stinging hairs being stung.
(trichomes), up to 6mm long
Mitigation:
Allergens:
• Gloves
• The tree nettle is one of New • Safety glasses
Zealand's most poisonous native
• Do not ingest
plants. Brushing the plant
• Avoid contact with bare skin
produces a stinging on the skin of
varying intensity First Aid:
• These break after piercing the
skin, injecting toxins into the • Seek immediate medical attention
tissues, giving rise to pain and if ingested
rash • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
• Formic acid is present and 766
responsible for the initial pain but • Antihistamine can relieve
the longer term effects are symptoms of allergic reaction
18 Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Quick growing tree, growing to a • Gloves
height of 15m • Safety glasses
• Deciduous tree • Do not ingest
• Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens:
First Aid:
• It is reported all parts of this tree
is poisonous as it contains a • If any symptoms present seek
quinone irritant, 2,6- medical advice
dimethoxybenzoquinone, as well • Wash affected area with cold
as active quassinoids running water and soap
• Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting • Antihistamine may relive
and muscular relaxation symptoms of hay fever and
• The odour of the foliage can cause allergic reaction
a headache and nausea...rhinitis
and conjunctivitis in some
individuals
• Contact dermatitis can occur and
the pollen can cause hay fever
19
Wax tree or Rhus (Toxicodendron succedaneum)
Characteristics: Mitigation:
• Large shrub or tree, up to 8 m tall • Gloves
• It is now officially classified as a • Safety glasses
noxious weed in Australia and • Do not ingest
New Zealand • Avoid contact with bare skin
Allergens: First Aid:
• Highly toxic, allergy-causing tree • If any symptoms present seek
• The plant contains the medical advice
carcinogenic shikimic acid • Wash affected area with cold
(shikimate) which causes severe running water and soap
dermatitis beginning with a rash, • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
redness, itching and blisters area
wherever skin comes into contact • Seek immediate medical attention
with the plant or its sap if ingested
• The rash is often accompanied by • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
localised swelling of the face, 766
arms and legs • Antihistamine can relieve
symptoms of allergic reaction
20 Woolly Nightshade (Solanum mauritianum)
Characteristics: • Handling the plants can cause
irritation and nausea
• Small tree or shrub up to 10m
• The dust from the plant can cause
• It is now officially classified as a
respiratory problems if exposure
noxious weed in Australia and is prolonged
New Zealand
Mitigation:
Allergens:
• Gloves
• All parts of the Solanum
• Safety glasses
mauritianum plant are poisonous
• Do not ingest
to humans, especially the berries
• Human fatalities have resulted First Aid:
from the consumption of the
berries • Seek immediate medical attention
• The main toxic compound is the if ingested
alkaloid solasodine, with the • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
highest content in the unripe 766
green berries (2-3.5% dry weight) • Antihistamine can relieve
symptoms of allergic reaction
21
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Characteristics:
• Small tree or shrub up to 6m Mitigation:
• It is now officially classified as a
• Gloves
noxious weed in Australia and
• Safety glasses
New Zealand
• Do not ingest
Allergens:
First Aid:
• It is poisonous to humans -
touching it, or exposure to dust • Seek medical attention
from weed-eating, can irritate skin • Wash affected area with cold
and cause blisters and swelling running water and soap
• Sap from leaves and stems is • Avoid direct sunlight on affected
highly toxic and can cause area
‘photodermatitis’ or • Call the Poison Centre 0800 764
‘photosensitivity’ (the skin 766
becomes very sensitive to sunlight
and may suffer blistering,
pigmentation and long-lasting
scars)
• Contact with the eyes can lead
to temporary or permanent
blindness
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