Bringing greenery indoors can make any Pennsylvania home feel lively and fresh. But not all plants are a good fit for indoor life—they can cause mess, attract pests, or struggle in low light.
Choosing the wrong plant can turn a cheerful space into a tricky situation. Here’s a list of 12 plants you’ll want to keep outside to avoid indoor headaches!
1. English Ivy
The trailing vines might look charming on your Pennsylvania bookshelf, but they hide a nasty secret. The leaves and berries contain toxic compounds that can cause skin irritation and breathing problems.
Many Pennsylvania homeowners don’t realize that pets chewing on this plant can experience vomiting, abdominal pain, and even paralysis in severe cases.
2. Oleander
Every part of this flowering beauty contains cardiac glycosides that can stop your heart. Just a few leaves can be fatal to children or pets who might nibble on them in your Pennsylvania living room.
Even the water from vases holding oleander cuttings is dangerous. Pennsylvania poison control centers report that smoke from burning oleander can cause severe respiratory problems.
3. Castor Bean Plant
Containing ricin, one of the most potent plant toxins known, these plants should never cross your Pennsylvania threshold. The beans are particularly dangerous, with just one capable of killing a child if ingested.
Despite their attractive star-shaped leaves, Pennsylvania gardening experts warn these plants belong strictly outside, far from curious hands and paws.
4. Lily of the Valley
Don’t let the delicate white bells fool you – this woodland plant packs a powerful punch. All parts contain cardiac glycosides that disrupt heart rhythm and can cause dizziness, vomiting, and even death.
Pennsylvania veterinarians especially caution against bringing these into homes with cats. The Keystone State’s emergency vets treat several cases of lily toxicity annually.
5. Foxglove
Those gorgeous tubular blooms contain digitoxin, used in heart medications but dangerous in uncontrolled doses. Pennsylvania poison centers report cases of children getting sick just from sucking the flowers.
The entire plant is toxic, from roots to seeds. Many Pennsylvania gardeners don’t realize bringing cut foxglove indoors can pose risks to curious toddlers and pets.
6. Philodendron
These common houseplants contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate burning and swelling if chewed. In Pennsylvania homes with cats, these plants often lead to emergency vet visits.
The sap can also irritate sensitive skin. Pennsylvania poison control experts recommend keeping philodendrons completely out of reach of children and pets or choosing safer alternatives.
7. Dieffenbachia
Nicknamed “dumb cane” because chewing it can cause temporary inability to speak! The calcium oxalate crystals cause severe swelling of the mouth and throat, potentially blocking airways.
Pennsylvania emergency rooms see several cases yearly of children with painful mouth irritation from these plants. The Keystone State’s humid summers make these tropical plants tempting, but they’re better left outside.
8. Pothos
This nearly indestructible vine seems perfect for Pennsylvania’s variable indoor conditions, but it harbors a secret. Like its cousin philodendron, it contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate pain if chewed.
Many Pennsylvania pet owners don’t realize this common plant ranks among the top reasons for plant-related calls to animal poison control. Cats are especially prone to chewing the dangling vines.
9. Peace Lily
Despite its peaceful name, this plant causes quite a commotion in your body if ingested. The calcium oxalate crystals can cause intense burning, difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the tongue and throat.
Pennsylvania veterinarians report that these elegant white-flowered plants are particularly dangerous to cats. The Keystone State’s ASPCA chapter regularly warns pet owners about keeping these out of reach.
10. Sago Palm
Looking like a miniature palm tree, this prehistoric plant hides a deadly secret. All parts are toxic, but the seeds contain the highest concentration of cycasin, causing liver failure in pets.
Pennsylvania veterinarians rank this among the most dangerous houseplants. Just one seed can kill a dog, making this an absolute no-go for Pennsylvania homes with four-legged family members.
11. Elephant Ear
The massive, statement-making leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate pain and swelling if bitten. Their impressive size makes them tempting for Pennsylvania plant enthusiasts seeking dramatic indoor greenery.
The sap can also cause skin irritation. Pennsylvania poison control experts note that children are particularly vulnerable to these plants due to their attractive, unusual appearance.
12. Daffodil
While beautiful harbingers of spring across Pennsylvania gardens, daffodil bulbs should never be forced indoors. The bulbs contain lycorine, causing severe vomiting, diarrhea, and even cardiac arrhythmias if ingested.
Even the water from cut daffodils is toxic to other flowers. Pennsylvania florists know to let daffodils sit in their own water before arranging them with other blooms.