A-Z of Dangerous Plants for Small Animals

Pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits are known as herbivores meaning they need plenty of forage in their diets and in the wild would nibble on a variety of plants, fruits and roots. These would provide essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein, and it is beneficial to include such natural foods to their daily diet.

However, there are many plants in our gardens and surrounding areas that can be incredibly harmful to them. Feeding the wrong plants, herbs and fruits can cause illness, distress, discomfort and potentially death. So, it is incredibly important that you are able to identify any plant, vegetable or fruit before feeding be safe.

 

If you are at all unsure of identifying safe plants and weeds in your garden, do not attempt to feed your pet with them as you may inadvertently feed a poisonous plant. The rule of thumb that most small animal owners follow is: if the plant is an ivy, a lily, from a bulb, has berries, is evergreen or produces fruit that has a stone, there is a good chance it is poisonous to some degree and should be avoided.

 

It is also good common sense to stay away from those whose name include the terms deadly or poison, for example Deadly Nightshade.

 

Feeding dangerous plants can have many health debilitating effects if eaten in large amounts. Thankfully there are only a few that cause death on consumption; these are yew, and those from the nightshade family. Symptoms range from a stomach upset to possibly, death. Other symptoms include salivation, skin allergies and heart and breathing difficulties. If you are worried that your pet has ingested a potentially harmful plant, veterinary advice should be sought immediately.

Keeping your pets safe

There are a number of precautions you should take to keep your little ones safe from harm in your garden and home.

  • Remove any potentially dangerous plants from your garden.
  • If you cannot remove the plants, keep them away from wandering paws by using fencing such a chicken wire to keep them out of reach.
  • If your pets are out in a run, ensure the plants are far enough away from the side to stop them nibbling and pulling them into the run.
  • Ensure plants in the home are kept out of reach at all times.
  • Always carefully identify any plants before you feed them to your small animal. There are now apps available to help you do this and can make identifying plants much easier.
  • If ever doubtful of the plant’s identity, do not feed.  

 

Below is a list of the plants likely to found in and around gardens. This is not a complete list, and is only a guide, but it should give a starting point with identifying some of the plants that could cause harm to your furry friends. If you are unsure of what any of these plants, look like an internet or book search may prove helpful and again apps are available to help with identification.

A-Z of Hazardous Plants

A

Acokanthera
Aconite
African rue
Agapanthus
Agave (leaves)
Almond
Aloe
Alsike clover
Amanita
Amaryllis belladonna
Andromeda
Anemone
Angel’s Trumpet
Anthurium
Antirrhinums
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (seeds and skin)
Arrowgrass
Arrowhead vine
Asian Lilly
Asparagus Fern
Atropa belladonna
Australian Nut
Avacado
Azalea

B

Baccharis
Balsam
Balsam Pear (seeds and skin)
Baneberry
Barbados Lily
Beach pea
Beargrass
Beefsteak Plant
Begonia
Belladonna Lily
Betel-nut Palm
Bird of Paradise
Bitter Cherry
Bittersweet
Bitterweed
Black Nightshade
Black Walnut
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Bluebells
Boston Ivy
Buddhist Pine
Busy Lizzie
Buttercup
Black Locust
Black Nightshade
Black Root
Bladderpod
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Blue Cohosh
Bog Kalmia
Bottlebrush
Boxwood  
Bracken Fern
Branching Ivy
Broomcorn
Broomweed
Bryony
Buckeye
Buckthorn
Bull Nettle
Bunchberry
Burroweed
Buttercups 

C

Cactus Thorn
Caesalpinia
Caladium
Calendula
Calico Bush (young leaves and shoots)
California Fern
California Geranium
California Holly
Calla Lilly (rhizome, leaves)
Caladiur (leaves)
Candelabra Cactus
Cardinal Flower
Carnation
Carolina Jessamine
Casava
Cassine
Castor Bean
Celastrus
Century Plant
Ceriman
Chalice Vine
Cherry, Jerusalem
Cherry Laurel 
Cherry, Natal
Cherry Tree
China Doll
Chinaberry Tree  
Chinese Bellflower
Chinese Lantern
Chinese Evergreen
Choke Cherry
Christmas Berry
Christmas Candle
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineraria
Clematis
Climbing Nightshade
Cloak Fern
Cocklebur
Coffee Bean
Cohosh
Colorado Rubberweed
Columbine
Common Privet
Cone Flower
Coral Berry
Coral Plant
Cordatum
Corn Cockle
Corn Lily
Corn Plant
Covotillo (berries)
Cowbane
Cowslip
Crab’s Eye – seeds
Creeping Charlie
Crocus
Croton
Crow Poison
Crown of Thorns
Crown Vetch
Cuban Laurel
Cuckoopint  
Curcas Bean
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen 

D

Daffodils
Dahlias
Daisy
Daphne
Datura
Day Lily
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Death Cup
Delphinium
Deadly Amanita
Desert Tobacco
Destroying Angel
Devils Tomato
Devil’s Ivy
Dianthus
Dieffenbachia
Dog Mercury
Dogwood
Doll’s eyes
Dogbane
Dracaena
Dracaena palm
Dragon tree
Drymary
Durra
Dumb Cane
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dutchman’s pipe 

E

Easter Lilly
Eggplant (all but fruit)
Elaine
Elder Flower
Elderberry
Elephant Ear 
Emerald duke
Emerald Feather
English Laurel
English Ivy
Euonymus
Euphorbia
Evening trumpet
Exotica perfection
Eyebane 

F

False Hellebore
False Henbane (all parts)
False Parsley
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fiddleneck
Figwort
Firecracker 
Firethorn
Fireweed
Flamingo Plant
Florida Beauty
Flowering Maple
Flowering Tobacco
Fluffy Ruffles 
Fly Agaril
Fly-poison
Fool’s Parsley
Four 0’clock
Foxglove
Frijolito
Fruit Salad Plant 

G

Garden Sorrel
Gelsemium
Geranium
German Ivy
Ghostweed
Giant Dumbcane
Giant Touch-me-not
Glacier Ivy 
Gladiola
Glecoma Hederacea
Glory Lilly
Goatweed
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust
Golden Chain
Golden Pothos
Golden-toothed Aloe
Greasewood
Green-gold Nephythytis
Ground Ivy
Groundsel
Guajillo 

H

Hahn’s Ivy
Halogeton
Hawaiian Baby Wood Rose
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heart Ivy 
Heavenly Bamboo
Hedge Apples
Hellebore
Hemlock, Poison
Hemlock, Water
Henbane
Hogwart
Holly
Horse Chestnut
Horsehead Philodendron
Horsetail Reed
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea 

I

Impatiens
Indian Hemp
Indian Laurel
Indian Rubber
Indian tobacco
Indian turnip
Indigo
Inkberry
Inkweed
Iris
Ivy, Boston & English

J

Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Jamestown weed
Japanese Euonymus
Japanese Show Lily
Japanese Yew
Jasmine
Jatropha
Java Bean
Jequirity bean
Jerusalem Cherry
Jessamine
Jimmy fern
Jimson Weed
Johnson Grass
Jonquil
Juniper

K

Kafir Kingcup 
Klamath weed

L

Laburnum
Lace Fern
Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lady Slipper
Lambkill
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Laurel Cherry
Lecheguilla
Leyland Cypress
Ligustrum 
Lily of the Valley
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords and Ladies  
Lupine 

M

Macadamia Nut
Machineel
Madagascar Dragon Tree
Majesty
Manchineel Tree
Mandrake
Marbel Queen
Marijuana
Marsh Marigold
Mauna Loa Peace Lily
Mayapple
Meadow Saffron Medicine Plant
Mescal – cactus tops
Mesquite
Mexican Breadfruit
Mexicantes
Mescal Bean
Milk Bush
Milkvetch
Milkweed
Milo
Miniature Croton Mistletoe
Moccasin Flower
Mock Orange
Monkshood
Moonflower
Moonseed
Morning Glory
Mother-in-law
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms (some varieties)
Mustard

N

Nandina
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephtytis
Nicotiana  
Nightshades
Nutmeg 

O

Oak (acorns, foliage)
Orange Milkweed 
Orange Sneezeweed
Oleander
Ornamental Tobacco
Oxalis 

P

Palma Christi
Panda
Paper Flowers
Paradise Plant
Parlor Ivy
Partridge Breast
Pathos
Patience Plant
Peace Lily
Peach (leaves, twigs, seeds)
Pear (seeds)
Pear, balsam – seed and outer rind of fruit
Pencilbush
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Pennyroyal mint
Peregrina
Perill Mint
Periwinkle
Peyote
Philodendron (leaves, stem)
Pigweed
Pingue
Pinks
Plum
Plumosa Fern
Poinsettia
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poison Parsnip
Poison Sumac
Poke Salad
Pokeberry
Pokeroot
Pokeweed
Poppy
Pot Marigold
Pot Mum
Precatory Bean
Prickly Copperweed
Prickly Poppy
Primrose
Primula
Privet
Purge Nut
Purple Sesbane
Purple Thornapple
Psychic Nut
Pyracantha 

Q

Queen Anne’s lace Queensland Nut  

R

Ragwort
Ranunculus
Rattlebox
Rattleweed
Rayless Goldenrod
Red Emerald
Red Lily 
Red Clover
Red Margined Dracaena
Red Princess
Red Sage (green berries are fatal)
Rhododendron
Rhubarb (leaves)
Ribbon Plant
Ripple Ivy
Rosary Bean
Rosary Pea  
Rubrum Lily
Rum Cherry

S

Sacahuista
Saddle Leaf philodendron
Sage (some varieties)
Sago Palm
Sand Begonia
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Scotch Broom
Self-branching Ivy
Sennabean
Senecio
Sesbane
Shamrock Plant
Sheep laurel
Silver Pothos
Silverleaf
Silverling
Skunk Cabbage
Slinkweed
Snake Palm
Snakeroot, white
Snakeweed
Snapdragon
Snapweed
Snowdrop
Snow-on-the-Mountain
Solanum
Solomon’s Seal
Sorghum
Spathe Flower
Spider Mum
Spindleberry
Split Leaf Philodendron
Spotted Dumb Cane
Sprengeri Fern 
Spurges
Squill
Squirrel Corn
St Johnswort
Staggergrass
Star of Bethlehem
Stinkweed
Stranomium
String of Pearls
Striped Dracaena
Sudan Grass
Swamp Laurel
Sweet Potato
Sweet William
Sweetheart Ivy
Swiss cheese Plant 

T

Tansy
Taro Vine
Thornapple
Tiger Lily
Toadstools
Tobacco
Touch Me Not
Toyon
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow
True Aloe
Trumpet Plant
Trumpet Vine
Tulips
Tullidora
Turpentine Weed 

U

Umbrella Plant

V

Variegated Philodendron
Venus Flytrap  
Victoria Regia
Vinca  
Violet  
Virginia Creeper

W

Walnuts
Warneckei Dracaena
Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Western Lily
White Snakeroot
Windflower
Wisteria
Wolfsbane
Woodbine (sap)
Wood Lily
Wood-rose
Woody Nightshade

Y

Yam Bean
Yaupon Holly
Yellow Jasmine
Yellow Knapweed
Yellow Oleander
Yellow Star Thistle 
Yerba Depasmo
Yew
Yucca 

 

 

A-Z of Hazardous Plants

A

Acokanthera
Aconite
African rue
Agapanthus
Agave (leaves)
Almond
Aloe
Alsike clover
Amanita
Amaryllis belladonna
Andromeda
Anemone
Angel’s Trumpet
Anthurium
Antirrhinums
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (seeds and skin)
Arrowgrass
Arrowhead vine
Asian Lilly
Asparagus Fern
Atropa belladonna
Australian Nut
Avacado
Azalea

B

Baccharis
Balsam
Balsam Pear (seeds and skin)
Baneberry
Barbados Lily
Beach pea
Beargrass
Beefsteak Plant
Begonia
Belladonna Lily
Betel-nut Palm
Bird of Paradise
Bitter Cherry
Bittersweet
Bitterweed
Black Nightshade
Black Walnut
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Bluebells
Boston Ivy
Buddhist Pine
Busy Lizzie
Buttercup
Black Locust
Black Nightshade
Black Root
Bladderpod
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Blue Cohosh
Bog Kalmia
Bottlebrush
Boxwood  
Bracken Fern
Branching Ivy
Broomcorn
Broomweed
Bryony
Buckeye
Buckthorn
Bull Nettle
Bunchberry
Burroweed
Buttercups 

C

Cactus Thorn
Caesalpinia
Caladium
Calendula
Calico Bush (young leaves and shoots)
California Fern
California Geranium
California Holly
Calla Lilly (rhizome, leaves)
Caladiur (leaves)
Candelabra Cactus
Cardinal Flower
Carnation
Carolina Jessamine
Casava
Cassine
Castor Bean
Celastrus
Century Plant
Ceriman
Chalice Vine
Cherry, Jerusalem
Cherry Laurel 
Cherry, Natal
Cherry Tree
China Doll
Chinaberry Tree  
Chinese Bellflower
Chinese Lantern
Chinese Evergreen
Choke Cherry
Christmas Berry
Christmas Candle
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineraria
Clematis
Climbing Nightshade
Cloak Fern
Cocklebur
Coffee Bean
Cohosh
Colorado Rubberweed
Columbine
Common Privet
Cone Flower
Coral Berry
Coral Plant
Cordatum
Corn Cockle
Corn Lily
Corn Plant
Covotillo (berries)
Cowbane
Cowslip
Crab’s Eye – seeds
Creeping Charlie
Crocus
Croton
Crow Poison
Crown of Thorns
Crown Vetch
Cuban Laurel
Cuckoopint  
Curcas Bean
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen 

D

Daffodils
Dahlias
Daisy
Daphne
Datura
Day Lily
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Death Cup
Delphinium
Deadly Amanita
Desert Tobacco
Destroying Angel
Devils Tomato
Devil’s Ivy
Dianthus
Dieffenbachia
Dog Mercury
Dogwood
Doll’s eyes
Dogbane
Dracaena
Dracaena palm
Dragon tree
Drymary
Durra
Dumb Cane
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dutchman’s pipe 

E

Easter Lilly
Eggplant (all but fruit)
Elaine
Elder Flower
Elderberry
Elephant Ear 
Emerald duke
Emerald Feather
English Laurel
English Ivy
Euonymus
Euphorbia
Evening trumpet
Exotica perfection
Eyebane 

F

False Hellebore
False Henbane (all parts)
False Parsley
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fiddleneck
Figwort
Firecracker 
Firethorn
Fireweed
Flamingo Plant
Florida Beauty
Flowering Maple
Flowering Tobacco
Fluffy Ruffles 
Fly Agaril
Fly-poison
Fool’s Parsley
Four 0’clock
Foxglove
Frijolito
Fruit Salad Plant 

G

Garden Sorrel
Gelsemium
Geranium
German Ivy
Ghostweed
Giant Dumbcane
Giant Touch-me-not
Glacier Ivy 
Gladiola
Glecoma Hederacea
Glory Lilly
Goatweed
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust
Golden Chain
Golden Pothos
Golden-toothed Aloe
Greasewood
Green-gold Nephythytis
Ground Ivy
Groundsel
Guajillo 

H

Hahn’s Ivy
Halogeton
Hawaiian Baby Wood Rose
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heart Ivy 
Heavenly Bamboo
Hedge Apples
Hellebore
Hemlock, Poison
Hemlock, Water
Henbane
Hogwart
Holly
Horse Chestnut
Horsehead Philodendron
Horsetail Reed
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea 

I

Impatiens
Indian Hemp
Indian Laurel
Indian Rubber
Indian tobacco
Indian turnip
Indigo
Inkberry
Inkweed
Iris
Ivy, Boston & English

J

Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Jamestown weed
Japanese Euonymus
Japanese Show Lily
Japanese Yew
Jasmine
Jatropha
Java Bean
Jequirity bean
Jerusalem Cherry
Jessamine
Jimmy fern
Jimson Weed
Johnson Grass
Jonquil
Juniper

K

Kafir Kingcup 
Klamath weed

L

Laburnum
Lace Fern
Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lady Slipper
Lambkill
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Laurel Cherry
Lecheguilla
Leyland Cypress
Ligustrum 
Lily of the Valley
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords and Ladies  
Lupine 

M

Macadamia Nut
Machineel
Madagascar Dragon Tree
Majesty
Manchineel Tree
Mandrake
Marbel Queen
Marijuana
Marsh Marigold
Mauna Loa Peace Lily
Mayapple
Meadow Saffron Medicine Plant
Mescal – cactus tops
Mesquite
Mexican Breadfruit
Mexicantes
Mescal Bean
Milk Bush
Milkvetch
Milkweed
Milo
Miniature Croton Mistletoe
Moccasin Flower
Mock Orange
Monkshood
Moonflower
Moonseed
Morning Glory
Mother-in-law
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms (some varieties)
Mustard

N

Nandina
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephtytis
Nicotiana  
Nightshades
Nutmeg 

O

Oak (acorns, foliage)
Orange Milkweed 
Orange Sneezeweed
Oleander
Ornamental Tobacco
Oxalis 

P

Palma Christi
Panda
Paper Flowers
Paradise Plant
Parlor Ivy
Partridge Breast
Pathos
Patience Plant
Peace Lily
Peach (leaves, twigs, seeds)
Pear (seeds)
Pear, balsam – seed and outer rind of fruit
Pencilbush
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Pennyroyal mint
Peregrina
Perill Mint
Periwinkle
Peyote
Philodendron (leaves, stem)
Pigweed
Pingue
Pinks
Plum
Plumosa Fern
Poinsettia
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poison Parsnip
Poison Sumac
Poke Salad
Pokeberry
Pokeroot
Pokeweed
Poppy
Pot Marigold
Pot Mum
Precatory Bean
Prickly Copperweed
Prickly Poppy
Primrose
Primula
Privet
Purge Nut
Purple Sesbane
Purple Thornapple
Psychic Nut
Pyracantha 

Q

Queen Anne’s lace Queensland Nut  

R

Ragwort
Ranunculus
Rattlebox
Rattleweed
Rayless Goldenrod
Red Emerald
Red Lily 
Red Clover
Red Margined Dracaena
Red Princess
Red Sage (green berries are fatal)
Rhododendron
Rhubarb (leaves)
Ribbon Plant
Ripple Ivy
Rosary Bean
Rosary Pea  
Rubrum Lily
Rum Cherry

S

Sacahuista
Saddle Leaf philodendron
Sage (some varieties)
Sago Palm
Sand Begonia
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Scotch Broom
Self-branching Ivy
Sennabean
Senecio
Sesbane
Shamrock Plant
Sheep laurel
Silver Pothos
Silverleaf
Silverling
Skunk Cabbage
Slinkweed
Snake Palm
Snakeroot, white
Snakeweed
Snapdragon
Snapweed
Snowdrop
Snow-on-the-Mountain
Solanum
Solomon’s Seal
Sorghum
Spathe Flower
Spider Mum
Spindleberry
Split Leaf Philodendron
Spotted Dumb Cane
Sprengeri Fern 
Spurges
Squill
Squirrel Corn
St Johnswort
Staggergrass
Star of Bethlehem
Stinkweed
Stranomium
String of Pearls
Striped Dracaena
Sudan Grass
Swamp Laurel
Sweet Potato
Sweet William
Sweetheart Ivy
Swiss cheese Plant 

T

Tansy
Taro Vine
Thornapple
Tiger Lily
Toadstools
Tobacco
Touch Me Not
Toyon
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow
True Aloe
Trumpet Plant
Trumpet Vine
Tulips
Tullidora
Turpentine Weed 

U

Umbrella Plant

V

Variegated Philodendron
Venus Flytrap  
Victoria Regia
Vinca  
Violet  
Virginia Creeper

W

Walnuts
Warneckei Dracaena
Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Western Lily
White Snakeroot
Windflower
Wisteria
Wolfsbane
Woodbine (sap)
Wood Lily
Wood-rose
Woody Nightshade

Y

Yam Bean
Yaupon Holly
Yellow Jasmine
Yellow Knapweed
Yellow Oleander
Yellow Star Thistle 
Yerba Depasmo
Yew
Yucca 

 

The above lists and descriptions are to be used as a guide only and is not a substitute replacement for a proper consultation with a veterinary surgeon. Please contact your veterinary surgeon for advice or treatment immediately if you are worried about your pet’s health.