Handbook of Plants and Flowers Toxic to Pets
There are a number of reasons why we love having plants and flowers in our homes, as well as outside. They enhance any indoor or outdoor space, can boost our mood & reduce stress, foster our creativity, and purify the air we breathe—all of which can make us happier and healthier.
Yet, even though many plants and flowers are great for humans—they may not be good for our beloved pets. In fact, many of them can be harmful—-even toxic for both cats and dogs.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t reap all the benefits plants and flowers provide us, but to ensure our pets safety, it is our responsibility as pet owners to become informed and educated on which ones can cause serious illness or even death to our fur babies.
You might be amazed to find out just how many plants and flowers can be toxic to our beloved pets. There are actually over 1000 toxic plants and flowers; so we’ve narrowed down our handbook to include some of the more common ones that are harmful to both cats and dogs.
For a full list you can visit the Humane Society’s website or download this PDF to print out a comprehensive list.
Plants and Flowers Toxic to Pets
Outdoor plants and flowering bushes can enhance any landscape, but when your fur baby also ventures into your yard, he or she will also have access to them. It’s important to know what types of plants and bushes are harmful to your pets—especially if you have an outdoor cat or allow your dog to roam freely outside.
10 Common outdoor plants and flowering bushes
1. American Holly
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: English Holly, European Holly, Oregon Holly, Inkberry, Winterberry
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, depression.
2. Azalea
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death. Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious problems. The toxic principle interferes with normal skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and nerve function.
3. Buttercup
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Butter Cress, Figwort
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hyper-salivation, oral ulcers, wobbly gait.
4. Bishop’s Weed
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Greater Ammi, False Queen Anne’s Lace
Symptoms: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
5. Caladium
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Malanga, Elephant’s Ears, Stoplight, Seagull, Mother-in-law Plant, Pink Cloud, Texas Wonder, Angel-Wings, Exposition, Candidum, Fancy-leaved Caladium
Symptoms: oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
6. Gardenia
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Symptoms: mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, hives.
7. Hibiscus
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Rose of Sharon, Rose of China
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia.
8. Hydrangea
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Hortensia, Hills of Snow, Seven Bark
Symptoms: vomiting, depression, diarrhea. Cyanide intoxication is rare; usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance.
9. Morning Glory
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Symptoms: gastrointestinal upset, agitation, tremors, disorientation, ataxia, anorexia. Seeds may cause hallucination, may cause diarrhea.
10. Rhododendron
Toxic to cats and dogs
Other Common Names: Rosebay, Azalea
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death; Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious problems.
Indoor plants can add life and beauty to any space in our homes, but many of them can also be toxic for our pets. Since our furry four-legged friends are curious by nature, your best bet is placing indoor plants that can be potentially harmful out of reach; such as on a shelf, the top of a cabinet, on a high counter, or hang it from the ceiling with a hook.
10 Common indoor plants toxic to cats and dogs
1. Aloe Vera
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Symptoms: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color.
2. Asparagus Fern
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Asparagus, Emerald Feather, Emerald Fern, Sprengeri Fern, Plumosa Fern, Lace Fern, Racemose Asparagus, Shatavari
Symptoms: allergic dermatitis with repeated dermal exposure. Berry ingestion could result in gastric upset, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
3. Corn plant
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Dracaena, Dragon Tree, Ribbon Plant
Symptoms: vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hyper-salivation, dilated pupils (cats).
4. Dieffenbachia
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Charming Dieffenbachia, Giant Dumb Cane, Tropic Snow, Dumbcane, Exotica, Spotted Dumb Cane, Exotica Perfection
Symptoms: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
5. English Ivy
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Branching Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy, California Ivy
Symptoms: vomiting, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation, diarrhea. Foliage is more toxic than berries.
6. Eucalyptus
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Symptoms: salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness.
7. Jade Plant
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant, Japanese rubber plant
Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, ataxia, slow heart rate.
8. Peace Lily
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Mauna Loa Peace Lily
Symptoms: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
9. Philodendron (Cut Leaf)
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Hurricane Plant, Swiss Cheese Plant, Ceriman, Mexican Breadfruit, Split-leaf Philodendron, Window Leaf Plant
Symptoms: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
10. Pothos
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Devil’s Ivy, Golden Pothos, Taro Vine, Ivy Arum.
Symptoms: oral irritation, burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing.
11. Snake Plant
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Golden Bird’s Nest, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Good Luck Plant
Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Flowers that grow in our gardens or beautifully arranged tulips on our coffee table can be both aesthetically pleasing to the eye and fill the air with a heavenly aromatic scent. As pet owners, we need to realize that our fur babies may also want to ‘stop and smell the roses’ from time to time—which is all well and good, until their curiosity gets the better of them and they decide to take a nibble.
10 Common flowers and flowering plants toxic to cats and dogs
1. Amaryllis
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady
Symptoms: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation, anorexia, and tremors.
2. Autumn Crocus
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Meadow Saffron
Symptoms: bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, bone marrow suppression, tremors, convulsions, seizures.
3. Baby’s Breath
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Maiden’s Breath
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea.
4. Begonia
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: over 1,000 species and 10,000 hybrids
Symptoms: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. Tubers are the most toxic.
5. Carnation
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Pinks, Wild Carnation, Sweet William
Symptoms: mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis.
6. Chrysanthemum
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Daisy, Mum; many varieties
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, loss of coordination, dermatitis.
7. Daffodil
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Narcissus, Jonquil, Paper White
Symptoms: vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.
8. Daisy
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Other Common Names: Chrysanthemum, Mum
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, in-coordination, dermatitis.
9. Lilies
Toxic to both dogs and cats. Extremely toxic to cats– Just one lily leaf, if eaten, can kill your cat; but any part of the plant is dangerous, including the pollen and flower.
Other Common Names: Asiatic Lily, Day Lily, Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Stargazer Lily, Japanese Show Lily
Symptoms: vomiting, lack of appetite, depression, lethargy, kidney failure, difficulty breathing, death.
10. Tulip
Toxic to both dogs and cats
Symptoms: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hyper-salivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.
What to do if your pet ingests a toxic plant or flower
Stay calm.
Call your vet immediately even if your cat or dog appears normal.
If you know what plant your pet ingested but can’t identify it by name—take a photograph of the plant so you can share it with your vet.
If it’s after hours and you can’t reach your vet, call the nearest 24 hour veterinary hospital or call the ASPCA’s hotline.*
Signs of toxicity can vary depending on what your pet has ingested; being able to identify and communicate their symptoms will be helpful in your vet’s diagnosis and course of treatment.
Do not try to induce vomiting or administer any type of treatment without your veterinarian’s recommendation.
Place your pet in a safe space; away from other pets.
Try to keep your pet from grooming themselves.
*ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435