Allergenic Houseplants: Which Plants to Avoid if You Have Allergies

This article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. Houseplants make a home cosier and livelier, but when choosing them we usually think about looks, size, flowers and ease of care. Yet some plants can cause allergies or skin irritation. It's individual: most people never react, but allergy sufferers, families with young children and pet owners should know which plants to handle with care.

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Symptoms of a plant allergy

• runny or blocked nose, sneezing;
• watery, red, itchy eyes;
• scratchy throat, coughing;
• skin rash, hives, itching or redness where the plant touched you;
• in people with asthma — asthma attacks.

It's important to tell a true allergy from irritation: the caustic sap of euphorbias or dieffenbachia burns anyone's skin and mucous membranes, while an allergy only affects sensitised people.

Why plants cause reactions

Houseplants most likely to cause allergies

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The strongest plant allergens — pollen from ragweed, birch, pine and meadow grasses such as fescue, meadow grass and timothy — grow outdoors, but they easily get inside through open windows and on clothing.

Plants to choose if you have allergies

No plant is completely hypoallergenic, but the fewest problems usually come from plants with no strong scent, no pollen and no caustic sap:

• snake plant, spider plant, ZZ plant;
• calatheas and marantas;
• peperomias and pileas;
• cacti and most succulents (except euphorbias);
• phalaenopsis orchids.

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Poisonous houseplants: risks for children and pets

Allergy affects only sensitive people, whereas toxicity is a property of the plant itself. With toddlers, cats or dogs at home, be careful with:

• Lilies — even the pollen and vase water are dangerous to cats and can cause severe kidney damage.
• Dieffenbachia, philodendron, monstera, peace lily — calcium oxalate crystals in the sap cause burning and swelling of the mouth and throat.
• Oleander — every part is highly toxic to people and pets.
• Azalea (rhododendron) — leaves and flowers are toxic to animals.
• Ivy, croton, euphorbias — the sap irritates skin and stomach.
• Tulips and hyacinths — most toxins are in the bulbs.

You do not have to throw them out — just keep them high up, out of reach of children and pets, and handle them with gloves.

Allergic to cut flowers: what to choose

Cut flowers can also trigger reactions. The usual culprits are lilies (lots of pollen and a strong scent), plus chrysanthemums, daisies, gerberas, sunflowers and asters — members of the aster family that cross-react with ragweed.

For allergy sufferers, low-pollen flowers without a strong scent are usually safer: roses, orchids, tulips, hydrangeas and lisianthus. Removing lily anthers greatly reduces pollen. Dried flowers, which collect dust, are also best avoided.

Allergenic plants: photos

What the plants allergy sufferers should be careful with look like:

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How to reduce the risk

• Wear gloves when repotting and pruning, especially euphorbias, dieffenbachia and bulbs. Don't touch your eyes or mouth and wash your hands afterwards.
• Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every 1–2 weeks — dust and allergens settle on them.
• Don't overwater: mould grows in constantly wet compost, and its spores are a common hidden allergen. You can top-dress the pot with clay pebbles or decorative stones.
• Keep fragrant flowers out of the bedroom, especially lilies and hyacinths.
• Place plants with toxic sap out of reach of children and pets.

What to do if a reaction occurs

• Sap on skin — rinse with running water and soap; do not rub.
• In the eyes — rinse with clean water for several minutes; see a doctor if burning persists.
• A child or pet ate part of a plant — photograph the plant and contact a doctor or vet straight away.
• Runny nose and sneezing near a plant — move it out of the room and see if symptoms ease; an allergist can confirm the cause.

This information does not replace medical advice.

FAQ

Can you be allergic to flowers in a bouquet?

Yes — most often to lilies, chrysanthemums, mimosa and strongly scented flowers. People with allergies are better off with roses, tulips, orchids, hydrangeas or pollen-free bouquets (lily stamens can be removed).

Isn't a ficus a safe, air-purifying plant?

Plants add a little humidity, but the weeping fig is one of the most common indoor allergens.

What should I do if euphorbia sap gets in my eye?

Rinse the eye immediately with plenty of clean water and see a doctor.

UFL's florists can help you choose plants and bouquets suitable for allergy sufferers — see our houseplants section.

Which flowers commonly cause allergies?

Most often lilies, chrysanthemums, daisies, gerberas and asters (lots of pollen, cross-reaction with ragweed); among houseplants, weeping fig, pelargonium, primrose and ferns.

What flowers can I give someone with allergies?

Roses, orchids, tulips, hydrangeas or lisianthus — low pollen and no strong scent.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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