Now, some of these trees may not be suitable for planting in your area because of other factors, but we feel confident that this general rating for mechanical winter damage is useful enough and adds just one more piece of information to help you find the best tree for your site. When it gets too cold to garden outdoors, gardeners begin to garden indoors. Houseplants provide enjoyment during those long, dark winter days. They seem innocent enough with long cascading foliage or brightly-colored flowers, but some of them can be deadly. And surprisingly enough, poinsettia is NOT one of them.
Some common houseplants are poisonous to the touch and can be extremely toxic if ingested.
Enjoy them, but be sure to keep them out of reach of small children. The asparagus fern, weeping fig, spider mums, and gold-toothed aloe all cause dermatitis. The degree of irritation depends upon the parts of the plant contacted, the time of year, and the sensitivity of the handler. Boston ivy, dumbcane, several types of Philodendron, and pothos contain oxalates, the same toxin found in rhubarb leaves. Oxalates are irritant salts that cause swelling and pain of the mouth, lips, and tongue as well as destruction of the liver when ingested.