Yes, ASPCA lists two plants called Pride of Barbados as toxic to dogs: Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Poinciana gilliesii. They are not interchangeable and their listed signs differ. Preserve the nursery label and photographs of the whole plant, leaves, flowers and pods before seeking guidance.
Call a vet or poison control now. Do not wait for symptoms.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply.
Educational reference. Not individualized veterinary advice.(more)
See this page's cited references for supporting information and our Sources page for the reference organizations we use. Citations do not imply that those organizations reviewed or endorsed DogSafe.
Read the general guidance and keep your dog's exposure details ready for a veterinary call. This checker cannot decide whether an exposure is safe.
Why Pride of Barbados is dangerous
Pride of Barbados is an ambiguous common name. ASPCA lists Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Poinciana gilliesii as toxic to dogs, but under separate records with different clinical-sign descriptions. The dog-safety answer should follow the confirmed scientific name, plant part and exposure—not the common name alone.
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
NC State identifies this shrub or small tree by showy orange-red flowers, long red stamens, fern-like bipinnate leaves, prickled stems and flat pods containing seeds. ASPCA lists it separately as Peacock Flower, names gastrointestinal irritants and tannins, and gives vomiting and diarrhea as the dog signs.
Poinciana gilliesii
ASPCA's separate Bird of Paradise 2 record also includes Pride of Barbados among the common names. It identifies Poinciana gilliesii, calls it toxic to dogs, names gastrointestinal irritants and lists mouth burning or irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing and possible incoordination.
Do not merge the symptom lists
The two ASPCA records are evidence about two named plants. Report the scientific name if you have it and the signs actually present. Do not attach every sign from both records to one plant, and do not import human poison-severity labels or outcomes reported for another animal species into a dog prognosis.
Signs to watch for
Keep the species lists separate. ASPCA lists vomiting and diarrhea for Caesalpinia pulcherrima. For Poinciana gilliesii, ASPCA lists oral burning or irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing and possible incoordination.
Related items
Check the exact item or ingredient before assuming two similar exposures carry the same risk.
What to do next
Photograph the whole plant and close views of leaves, flowers, stems, pods and seeds; save the nursery tag; note which part is missing, the time and the dog's weight; and contact a veterinarian or poison-control service. Do not rely on the common name or an image-match app as final identification.
🚨Step-by-step: what to do in the first 10 minutes →Available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
Build an identification packet before the call
A useful plant record preserves what a veterinarian or poison specialist needs without pretending a common name proves the species.
1. Photograph the full growth habit
Include the whole shrub or tree and its surroundings so size and structure are visible. Use the common-name and scientific-name guide →
2. Capture leaves, flowers and pods separately
Sharp close-ups and a ruler or familiar object for scale are more useful than one distant garden photo. See the flower-shopping identification checklist →
3. Keep the original label
A scientific name on a nursery tag is stronger evidence than a spoken common name. Photograph both sides and the pot barcode. Compare the existing bird-of-paradise item page →
4. Report the exact part chewed
Leaves, flowers, stems, pods and loose seeds are distinct facts. Count missing pods or seeds when possible without handling the dog's mouth unsafely. Use the bird-of-paradise exposure guide →
5. Act on the exposure, not a visual guess
For an active ingestion, organize the time, amount, dog weight and symptoms while contacting professional help. Follow the first 10 minutes checklist →
FAQ
No reliable at-home safe amount can be given for an unidentified plant under this common name. Risk assessment needs the scientific identity if available, the part chewed, estimated amount, time, dog weight and current signs. Pods and seeds are especially important to photograph and account for.
Remove access and loose plant material only if it is safe to do so. Rinse visible plant residue from the mouth with a small amount of water if the dog will comfortably allow it, then call for identification and case-specific advice. Do not give a remedy or induce vomiting unless directed.
Contact a veterinarian or animal poison control after a confirmed chew because both ASPCA entries are toxic to dogs and the common name is ambiguous. Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing or swallowing, intense mouth pain, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, marked drooling, weakness, incoordination or collapse.
Yes. ASPCA lists both Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Poinciana gilliesii—two plants that can carry this common name—as toxic to dogs. Because the records and listed signs differ, identify the scientific name rather than combining them into one plant.
NC State specifically describes toxic seeds and identifies leaves and seeds among poisonous parts, while ASPCA describes gastrointestinal irritants and tannins for the plant record. Photograph and report the exact part; do not use that detail to declare other parts safe.
For Caesalpinia pulcherrima, NC State describes orange-red flowers with prominent red stamens, fern-like compound leaves, prickled stems and flat pods. Still preserve a nursery label or seek expert identification, because visual matching alone can confuse plants sharing common names.
The common names overlap, but the plants are not necessarily the familiar Strelitzia houseplant. ASPCA uses Bird of Paradise 2 for Poinciana gilliesii, while other sources call Caesalpinia pulcherrima Mexican or red bird of paradise. Scientific names prevent the mix-up.
Remove access, save the material, take photographs, note the number missing and call a veterinarian or animal poison control. Do not induce vomiting or give food, milk or another remedy unless the professional handling the case directs it.
An image app can produce a lead, not a confirmed toxicology identity. Save the app suggestion as tentative and provide multiple photographs plus the nursery label. A scientific name from a reliable label or plant professional is more useful for a veterinary call.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Peacock Flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Bird of Paradise 2 (Poinciana gilliesii)
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox — Caesalpinia pulcherrima identification
- ASPCA — Peacock Flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima); toxic to dogs
- ASPCA — Bird of Paradise 2 (Poinciana gilliesii); toxic to dogs
- NC State Extension — Caesalpinia pulcherrima identity, leaves, flowers, pods and seeds