Poisonous Plants Abound in House, Yard

Deadly Plants: A Warning for Pet Owners

The most common call veterinarians receive involves lilies, which can cause acute renal failure in cats.
“I advise cat owners to not have lilies in the house or yard because one bite is all it takes and the symptoms are gradual,”
said one veterinarian. “We usually don’t get the call until three days later, at which point the cat is in kidney failure.”

Veterinary Insights

Orange Veterinarian Jeff Horner of Orange Veterinary Hospital has seen death caused by oleander and
‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ (Brunfelsia).

What to Do If You Suspect Poisoning

If you suspect your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, bring both your pet and the plant to the veterinarian.
“Although we’re not botanists, seeing the plant can sometimes help us make an accurate diagnosis,” Horner said.

Helpful Resources

  • California Poison Control System (San Diego Division): (800) 876-4766
    www.calpoison.org
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 or (800) 548-2423 (fees may apply)
    www.napcc.aspca.org

Plants to Watch Out For

Highly Toxic Plants

Some plants have foliage, flowers, or fruit that can be deadly when eaten.
For a full list of toxic plants, call the Orange Veterinary Hospital at (714) 978-6260 or visit
the ASPCA Poison Control website.

  • Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia)
  • Azalea
  • Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
  • Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
  • Cestrum spp.
  • Daphne
  • Delphinium
  • Echium vulgare
  • Foxglove
  • Heliotrope
  • Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)
  • Larkspur
  • Lily-of-the-valley
  • Lobelia
  • Lupine
  • Meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale)
  • Morning glory (seeds)
  • Myoporum
  • Nicotiana spp.
  • Oleander
  • Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
  • Pregnant onion (Ornithogalum)
  • Scilla
  • Sweet pea
  • Yew (Taxus spp.)

Less Toxic Plants

These plants may cause symptoms like rashes, swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea. Some may cause serious poisoning if eaten in large quantities.

  • Agave species
  • Amaryllis
  • Anemone
  • Anthurium
  • Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
  • Birch tree (Betula species)
  • Bird of paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii)
  • Boston ivy
  • Caladium
  • Calla lily
  • Camphor tree
  • Carnation
  • Clematis
  • Columbine
  • Cotoneaster
  • Croton
  • Cyclamen
  • Daffodil
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Elephant’s ear (Alocasia/Colocasia)
  • English ivy (Hedera spp.)
  • Eucalyptus
  • Euonymus
  • Euphorbia species
  • Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
  • Gladiolus
  • Holly (berries)
  • Hyacinth
  • Hydrangea
  • Iris
  • Jatropha
  • Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
  • Kaffir lily (Clivia spp.)
  • Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
  • Ming aralia (Polyscias spp.)
  • Mistletoe
  • Mum
  • Narcissus
  • Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
  • Philodendron
  • Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
  • Poppy
  • Potato (green parts)
  • Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
  • Primrose
  • Privet (Ligustrum)
  • Pyracantha spp.
  • Rhubarb (leaves)
  • Rubber plant (Ficus spp.)
  • Sago palm
  • Sansevieria
  • Schefflera
  • Snowflake (Leucojum spp.)
  • Tobacco
  • Tomato vines
  • Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
  • Tulip
  • Umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius)
  • Wisteria (seeds)
  • Yarrow

Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a bestselling journalist, novelist, blogger, and YouTuber. A prolific author, Julie writes in several genres. She enjoys creating page-turning suspense served up with a dose of romance, garden books that turn any brown thumb green, and spiritual books meant to enlighten and inspire. Widely published, Julie has written 45 books and more than 4,000 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications. She lives in Southern California, where she enjoys sunny, blue skies most days and year-round gardening. Julie gains inspiration from being surrounded by plants when she writes.