Topic Overview

Irritant plants may cause a local irritation or rash where they come into contact with the skin. Unlike poison ivy, oak, or sumac, you do not have to be allergic to the plant to develop a rash. Irritant plants include:

• Flower bulbs, such as hyacinth or daffodil bulbs or tulip bulb sheaths. These can cause a reaction called daffodil itch or tulip fingers. Tulips can cause either an irritant reaction or an allergic reaction.
• Roses, rose hips, and dahlias.
• Stinging nettle and spurge nettle.
• Herbs such as comfrey, borage, barberry, tansy, yarrow, garlic, and hot peppers.
• Rhubarb.
• Plants from the bromeliad family, such as pineapple and Spanish moss.
• Cacti and sharp grasses.