The Common Houseplant – Lovely to Look at, Unsafe to Eat! (2024)

Philodendron (Philodendron) and Pothos or Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum) plants are very similar. They both have heart-shaped green (or green and white) leaves that are attractive to children. The trailing habit of these plants makes them easy for little hands to grab a leaf. All parts of the plant contain raphides (needle shaped crystals) that are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope. When chewed, these tiny crystals can poke the tongue, mouth, and throat to cause irritation, drooling, and redness that occurs almost right away. A child may have a hard time swallowing or even throw up after eating this plant. If sap from broken leaves touches the skin, it can cause a rash.