Poisonous Plants

Print

Many plants are toxic to dogs. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to discourage them from chewing on or ingesting any vegetation, especially the following plants.

The following plants are the most toxic to dogs and should never be made available to them under any circumstances:

• Castor bean or castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)
• Cyclamen (Cylamen spp.)
• Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia)
• Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
• English Ivy, both leaves and berries (Hedera helix)
• Mistletoe (Viscum album)
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Thorn apple or jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
• Yew (Taxus spp.)
• Any mushroom you cannot identify as safe

These types of vegetation are to be avoided for a variety of reasons. Do not plant them near your home or bring them inside as plants or cut flowers:

• Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.)
• Autumn crocus (Colochicum autumnale)
• Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Chrysanthemum (Compositae spp.)
• Flower bulbs of any kind
• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
• Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
• Larkspur (Delphinium)
• Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
• Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)
• Peace Lily or Mauna Loa Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
• Pothos (both Scindapsus and Epipremnum)
• Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum)
• Schefflera (Schefflera and Brassaia actinophylla)
• Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica)
• Tulip/Narcissus bulbs (Tulipa/Narcissus spp.)
• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

These tougher-leafed or woody specimens are also poisonous and should be avoided in and around your house.

• Azalea
• Box
• Chinaberry tree
• Horsechestnut
• Laburnum
• Oleander
• Privet
• Sago Palm
• Rhododendron
• Wisteria

You can also visit the Pet Poison Helpline for their Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets, and the ASPCA for their extensive list of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants.