Your backyard can be an oasis from the hustle and bustle of daily life, a place where you go for fun and serenity.
It can also be a haven for poisonous plants that you might not even realize are dangerous to your family and pets.
To help keep you safe, The Spruce has identified 15 common toxic plants that can be dangerous if touched or consumed.
It's important to remember: If you find any of these plants in your yard, don't just remove them with your bare hands; wear gloves and other protective clothing, like long sleeves. Don't dispose of these plants in yard waste bags or your burn pile, either. Experts say the best way to dispose of dangerous plants is to place them in a plastic bag and set the bag out with the trash.
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Bittersweet nightshade
All parts of the plant -- berries, bark, leaves, sap -- are toxic.
Chinese Lanterns
The plant leaves and fruit are toxic.
Foxglove
If consumed, the plant's flowers, leaves, roots and stems are toxic.
Mountain Laurel
The bark, sap, leaves and flowers of this plant are toxic.
Castor Bean or Castor Oil Plant
Castor beans contain ricin, a deadly toxin.
Yew Shrubs
Not only are the needle-like leaves toxic, but the fleshy, bright-red berries contain a seed that is toxic.
Poison Sumac
Both the leaves and berries of this plant are toxic.
Poison Ivy
Every part of this plant is poisonous, but the leaves are especially toxic.
Easter Lily
While the sap of the stems and leaves can be toxic to humans, they are deadly to cats.
Stinging Nettles
The leaves and stems are covered with fine hairs, some of which can detach and inject a burning, stinging chemical when the plant is touched or eaten.
Yellow Dock
Although it is not very toxic for humans, the plant is listed as poisonous to dogs by the ASPCA.
Lantana
The berries, leaves and sap of this colorfully flowering plant are toxic.
Lily of the Valley
All parts of the plant are toxic, including the roots, stems, leaves, flowers and berries.
White Baneberry
While all parts of this plant are poisonous, the roots and berries are especially toxic.
Tansy
All parts of the plant are poisonous. It contains a toxin called thujone, which can be deadly.
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