Data Story

50 Most Common Toxic Garden Plants — ASPCA Verified

A curated reference of the 50 most common garden and houseplants the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center flags as toxic to dogs and cats, cross-referenced against the Growable Ground plant database. It is a practical starting point — not an exhaustive toxicity census.

Toxicity classifications: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, April 2026.

Last updated: Jul 2026

Lethal

Potentially fatal

Severe

Hospitalization risk

Moderate

Vet visit likely

Mild

GI upset, irritation

If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic plant:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

Key Statistics — Pet-Toxic Garden Plants

Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Growable Ground plant database.

6 common garden plants are classified as potentially lethal to pets, including lilies (cats), foxglove, and yew.
Many "toxic" plants are only dangerous in specific parts — tomato fruit is safe, but leaves and stems contain solanine. Cherry flesh is safe, but seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides.

Toxic Plants — Sorted by Severity

Showing 50 plants

Plant	Severity	Affects	Toxic Parts	Clinical Signs
Daylily Hemerocallis spp.	Lethal	cats	All parts	Acute kidney failure in cats; all parts including water in vase
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea	Lethal	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Cardiac glycosides cause fatal arrhythmias
Monkshood Aconitum napellus	Lethal	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Aconitine causes cardiac and respiratory failure
Lily Lilium spp.	Lethal	cats	All parts	Acute kidney failure in cats; extremely toxic
Yew Taxus spp.	Lethal	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Taxine alkaloids cause sudden cardiac arrest
Oleander Nerium oleander	Lethal	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Cardiac glycosides; potentially fatal
Sago Palm Cycas revoluta	Lethal	dogs, cats, horses	All parts, especially seeds	Cycasin; hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, liver failure, death
Grape Vitis vinifera	Severe	dogs	Fruit	Acute kidney failure in dogs
Larkspur Delphinium spp.	Severe	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Diterpene alkaloids; neuromuscular paralysis
Azalea Rhododendron spp.	Severe	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Grayanotoxins; cardiac depression, potentially fatal
Rhododendron Rhododendron spp.	Severe	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Grayanotoxins; cardiac depression, potentially fatal
Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia	Severe	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Grayanotoxins; similar to rhododendron poisoning
Pieris Pieris japonica	Severe	dogs, cats, horses	All parts	Grayanotoxins; cardiovascular collapse possible
Hops Humulus lupulus	Severe	dogs	All parts	Malignant hyperthermia in dogs; potentially fatal
Lantana Lantana camara	Severe	dogs, cats	All parts	Pentacyclic triterpenoids; liver failure
Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens	Severe	dogs, cats	All parts	Gelsemine alkaloid; paralysis, respiratory failure
Angel Trumpet Brugmansia spp.	Severe	dogs, cats	All parts	Tropane alkaloids; hallucinations, seizures
Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Severe	dogs, cats, horses	Bark, seeds, leaves	Robin toxalbumin; potentially fatal
Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum	Severe	dogs, cats	All parts	Nicotine; tremors, seizures, respiratory failure
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium	Severe	dogs, cats	All parts	Pulegone hepatotoxin; liver failure
Dieffenbachia Dieffenbachia spp.	Severe	dogs, cats	All parts	Calcium oxalate crystals; oral pain, swelling, drooling
Potato Solanum tuberosum	Moderate	dogs, cats	Leaves, stems, sprouts	Solanine in green parts; GI upset
Onion Allium cepa	Moderate	dogs, cats	All parts	N-propyl disulfide causes hemolytic anemia
Garlic Allium sativum	Moderate	dogs, cats	All parts	N-propyl disulfide causes hemolytic anemia
Rhubarb Rheum rhabarbarum	Moderate	dogs, cats	Leaves	Oxalic acid in leaves; kidney damage
Sweet Cherry Prunus avium	Moderate	dogs, cats, horses	Seeds, leaves, bark	Cyanogenic glycosides; fruit flesh is safe
Peach Prunus persica	Moderate	dogs, cats, horses	Seeds, leaves, bark	Cyanogenic glycosides; fruit flesh is safe
Plum Prunus domestica	Moderate	dogs, cats, horses	Seeds, leaves, bark	Cyanogenic glycosides; fruit flesh is safe
Apricot Prunus armeniaca	Moderate	dogs, cats, horses	Seeds, leaves, bark	Cyanogenic glycosides; fruit flesh is safe
Elderberry Sambucus nigra	Moderate	dogs, cats	Leaves, bark, unripe berries	Cyanogenic glycosides; ripe cooked berries safer
Black Walnut Juglans nigra	Moderate	dogs, horses	Nuts, hulls	Juglone; GI upset in dogs, laminitis in horses
Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis	Moderate	dogs, cats	Leaves (latex)	Anthraquinones; vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy
St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum	Moderate	dogs, cats	All parts	Hypericin; photosensitization, depression
English Ivy Hedera helix	Moderate	dogs, cats	Leaves, berries	Triterpenoid saponins; vomiting, diarrhea
Tomato Solanum lycopersicum	Mild	dogs, cats	Leaves, stems	Solanine in green parts; ripe fruit is safe
Eggplant Solanum melongena	Mild	dogs, cats	Leaves, stems	Solanine in leaves; ripe fruit generally safe
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Pyrethrins; vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
Daffodil Narcissus spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	Bulbs	Lycorine; vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Tulip Tulipa spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	Bulbs	Tulipalin A/B; GI irritation, drooling
Begonia Begonia spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts, especially tubers	Calcium oxalates; oral irritation, drooling
Geranium Pelargonium spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Geraniol/linalool; vomiting, depression, dermatitis
Jade Plant Crassula ovata	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Unknown toxin; vomiting, depression, incoordination
Pothos Epipremnum aureum	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Calcium oxalate crystals; oral irritation
Philodendron Philodendron spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Calcium oxalate crystals; oral swelling, drooling
Peace Lily Spathiphyllum spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Calcium oxalate crystals; oral irritation, drooling
Hosta Hosta spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Saponins; vomiting, diarrhea, depression
Wisteria Wisteria spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	Seeds, pods	Lectin/wisterin; vomiting, diarrhea
Lavender Lavandula spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Linalool/linalyl acetate; nausea, vomiting (large amounts)
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus	Mild	dogs, cats	All parts	Essential oils; GI upset in large quantities
Morning Glory Ipomoea spp.	Mild	dogs, cats	Seeds	Lysergic alkaloids; GI upset, tremors, disorientation

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian if you suspect plant poisoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my pet eats a toxic plant?

Contact ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by a veterinarian. Take a sample or photo of the plant if possible.

Where does this toxicity data come from?

Toxicity classifications are sourced from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center database, cross-referenced with the Growable Ground plant database of 1,086 species. This page lists the 50 most commonly encountered — a practical starting point, not a complete toxicity registry.

Are all parts of a toxic plant dangerous?

Not always. Some plants are only toxic in specific parts — for example, cherry fruit flesh is safe but the seeds, leaves, and bark contain cyanogenic glycosides. Tomato fruit is safe but the leaves and stems contain solanine. The table above specifies which parts are toxic for each plant.

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