The toxicity of plants

It is vitally important that you know the names of all plants in your home and yard. We suggest that you keep with your plants the name tabs that come with them when purchased. Take unfamiliar plants to a reputable nursery or plant store and have them positively identified.

We cannot identify plants from a phone description.

Contact us immediately if you suspect your pet may have eaten something poisonous. Do not wait for symptoms to appear! Contact us at 530-758-5650 for further help or to arrange an emergency visit.

To see whether or not one of your plants is poisonous (toxic), look it up on this list and check to see what number follows its name. Then read the information after that number in the Toxicity Index in the sidebar. If you have any questions or if your plant is not included on this list, please call Poison Control.

Plant name Toxicity
African boxwood 2
Agave 2, 3, 4
Amaryllis 2
Anemone 2, 4
Angel’s trumpet 1
Anthurium 3, 4
Arborvitae 2, 4
Arrowhead plant 3
Arum 3, 4
Autumn crocus 1, 4
Azalea 1
Barberry 2, 4
Begonia 2, 3
Belladonna 1
Belladonna lily 2, 4
Birch tree 2, 4
Bird-of-paradise shrub 2
Black henbane 1
Black locust (seeds) 1
Blood lily 2, 4
Boston ivy 3, 4
Boxwood 2, 4
Broom 2
Buckthorn 2, 4
Bushman’s poison 1
Buttercup 2, 4
Caladium 3, 4
California buckeye 2
Calla lily 3, 4
Camphor tree 2
Carnation 2, 4
Carolina jessamine 1, 4
Castor bean 1
Century plant 2, 3, 4
Cestrum 1
Chenille plant 2, 4
Chinaberry 1
Chinese evergreen 3, 4
Chinese lantern 1
Chokecherry 1
Chrysanthemum 2, 4
Cineraria 2, 4
Clematis 2, 4
Coast redwood 2, 4
Columbine 2
Copperleaf 2, 4
Coral plant 2, 4
Coral tree 1
Cotoneaster 2
Crinum lily 2, 4
Croton 2, 4
Crown of thorns 2, 4
Cyclamen 2, 4
Daffodil bulb 2, 4
Daisy 2, 4
Daphne 1
Death camas 1
Delphinium 1
Dumb cane 3
Dusty miller 2, 4
Echium 1, 4
Elderberry (ripe fruit nontoxic) 1
Elephant’s ear 3, 4
English laurel 1
Eucalyptus 2, 4
Euonymus 2
Euphorbia 2, 4
Fig, Weeping and fiddle-leaf 4
Firethorn 2, 4
Fishtail palm 3, 4
Four-o’clock 2, 4
Foxglove 1
Gladiolus 2, 4
Glory lily 1
Goldenchain tree 2
Gopher plant 2, 4
Ground ivy 2
Groundcherry 1
Heather 1
Heliotrope 1
Hellebore 1, 4
Holly (berries) 2
Honey bush 1
Horsechestnut 2
Hyacinth 2, 4
Hydrangea 1, 4
Indian currant 2
Indian turnip 3, 4
Iris 2, 4
Ivy, English 2, 4
Jack-in-the-pulpit 3, 4
Japanese aucuba 2
Japanese pieris 1
Jatropha 2, 4
Jequirity bean 1
Jerusalem cherry 1
Jessamine 1
Jimson weed 1
Juniper 2
Kaffir lily 2, 4
Lantana 1
Larkspur 1
Laurel cherry 1
Lily 2, 4
Lily-of-the-Nile 2, 4
Lily-of-the-valley 1, 4
Lobelia 1, 4
Love-in-a-mist 2
Love-lies-bleeding 1
Lupine 1
Marsh marigold 2
May apple 1
Meadow saffron 1, 4
Milkweed 2, 4
Ming aralia 2, 4
Mistletoe 2, 4
Mistletoe, European 1
Monkshood 1
Morning glory (seeds) 1
Myoporum 1
Myrtle 2
Naked Lady 2, 4
Natal plum 2
Nephthytis 3
Nerine 2, 4
Nightshade, Deadly 1
Oak tree (acorns) 2, 4
Oleander 1, 4
Pampas grass 1
Periwinkle 1
Peruvian lily 2, 4
Philodendron 3, 4
Photinia 1
Pittosporum 1
Poinsettia 2, 4
Poison hemlock 1
Poison oak 4
Pokeweed 2
Poppy 2, 4
Potato plant (green parts) 1
Pothos 3, 4
Pregnant onion 1
Primrose 4
Privet 2, 4
Pyracantha 2, 4
Rhododendron 1
Rhubarb (leaves) 3
Rosary bean 1
Rubber plant 4
Sago palm 1
Scarlet pimpernel 2, 4
Schefflera 2, 4
Seeds: Almond, Apple, Apricot, Cherry,
Crabapple, Loquat, Nectarine, Peach, Pear, Plum
1
Skunk cabbage 2
Snake plant 2, 4
Snow-on-the-mountain 2, 4
Snowberry 2
Snowdrop 2, 4
Snowflake 2, 4
Spathiphyllum 3, 4
Spider lily 2
Spider lily 2, 4
Split-leaf philodendron 3, 4
Squill 1
St. Johnswort 1, 4
Star-of-Bethlehem 1
Stinging nettles 4
String of beads 2, 4
Taro 3, 4
Tomato (non-fruit parts) 1, 4
Tree tobacco 1
Tree-of-heaven 2, 4
Tuberose 2
Tulip 2, 4
Umbrella plant 2
Umbrella tree 2, 4
Virginia creeper 3, 4
Water hemlock 1
Wild onion 2
Windflower 2, 4
Wintersweet 1
Wisteria 2
Yarrow 2, 4
Yellow oleander 1, 4
Yew pine 2
Yew, English & Japanese (seeds) 1

EMERGENCY CARE

Urgent Question?
Immediate pet emergency?

Call 530-758-5650.

If the clinic is closed, follow the instructions to leave a message or receive emergency clinic information.

Toxicity Index

  1. Major Toxicity: These plants may cause serious illness or death.
  2. Minor Toxicity: Ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.
  3. Oxalates: The juice or sap of these plants contains needle-shaped oxalate crystals. These crystals can irritate the skin, mouth, tongue, and throat, resulting in throat swelling, breathing difficulties, burning pain, and stomach upset.
  4. Dermatitis: The juice, sap, or thorns of these plants may cause a skin rash or irritation. Wash the affected area of skin with soap and water as soon as possible after contact. The rashes may be very serious and painful.

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