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Plants Toxic to Dogs: The Complete A-Z

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This is the complete index of every plant we cover, currently 550 of them, sorted so you can find one fast and understand why it matters rather than just that it does. Most plants on this list cause drooling and an upset stomach. A small number do not, and telling those two groups apart is the entire job of a page like this.

Last updated August 18, 2026

Start here: the seven with no safe amount

Everything else on this page is a question of how much and which part. These seven are not, which is why they are separated out rather than buried in an alphabetical run where they would look like everything else.

Two of them are commonly mistaken for harmless. Sago palm is sold as an ornamental palm and is not a palm at all; it contains cycasin and causes acute liver failure, and the seeds are the most concentrated part. Autumn crocus contains colchicine and is routinely confused with the harmless spring crocus, which is a different plant flowering at the opposite end of the year.

If your dog has eaten any part of Sago palm, Oleander, Lily of the valley, Foxglove, Yew, Castor bean or Autumn crocus, call a veterinarian or poison control now. These are the plants where quantity is not the deciding factor and where waiting to see what happens removes the treatment window.
Plant pages by verdict
  • ● 249 usually fineGenuinely fine in the amounts a dog would eat
  • ▲ 118 cautionMostly drooling and stomach upset
  • ■ 183 neverToxic, though severity within this group varies widely
Roughly a third of the plants we cover are safe. The point of this page is that "toxic" spans everything from a sore mouth to liver failure, so the label alone does not tell you what to do.
View as table
A bar chart of 550 plant pages grouped by DogSafe verdict: 249 rated usually fine, 118 rated caution, and 183 rated toxic.
Tierplant pagesShareWhat it means
● Usually fine24945%Genuinely fine in the amounts a dog would eat
▲ Caution11821%Mostly drooling and stomach upset
■ Never18333%Toxic, though severity within this group varies widely

Source: DogSafe plant database, the verdicts on the linked item pages themselves

Sorted by toxin, which is more useful than sorted by name

Plants that share a compound behave alike, so knowing the family tells you what to expect and what the vet will be watching. That is why this section exists ahead of the alphabetical index: an owner who knows their dog chewed an aroid knows to expect immediate mouth pain rather than delayed organ damage, and that is a different phone call.

The single most useful division is between the plants that hurt immediately and the plants that hurt later. Immediate pain is unpleasant and usually self-limiting. Delayed damage is the dangerous pattern, because the dog looks fine during the window when treatment works best.

Plant toxin families by the system they affect
  • High risk
  • Never
Plant toxin families by the system they affect
 Mouth and gutHeartLiverKidneyNervous system
Cardiac glycosides (oleander, foxglove)Mouth and gut: High riskHeart: NeverLiver: not a factorKidney: not a factorNervous system: not a factor
Insoluble oxalates (dieffenbachia, anthurium)Mouth and gut: NeverHeart: not a factorLiver: not a factorKidney: not a factorNervous system: not a factor
Saponins (snake plant, ivy, hosta)Mouth and gut: High riskHeart: not a factorLiver: not a factorKidney: not a factorNervous system: not a factor
Cycasin (sago palm)Mouth and gut: High riskHeart: not a factorLiver: NeverKidney: not a factorNervous system: not a factor
Colchicine (autumn crocus)Mouth and gut: NeverHeart: not a factorLiver: NeverKidney: NeverNervous system: not a factor
Taxine (yew)Mouth and gut: not a factorHeart: NeverLiver: not a factorKidney: not a factorNervous system: Never
Grayanotoxins (rhododendron, azalea)Mouth and gut: High riskHeart: NeverLiver: not a factorKidney: not a factorNervous system: not a factor
Ricin (castor bean)Mouth and gut: NeverHeart: not a factorLiver: NeverKidney: NeverNervous system: not a factor
Eight toxin families, five targets. The oxalate group is the one that hurts most and damages least; the cycasin and colchicine groups are the reverse.
View as table
A grid of eight plant toxin families against five body systems, showing which system each family affects. Insoluble oxalates affect only the mouth and gut; cycasin affects the liver; colchicine affects liver and kidney; taxine affects heart and nervous system.
ItemMouth and gutHeartLiverKidneyNervous systemNote
Cardiac glycosides (oleander, foxglove)◆ High risk■ NeverNot a factorNot a factorNot a factor
Insoluble oxalates (dieffenbachia, anthurium)■ NeverNot a factorNot a factorNot a factorNot a factor
Saponins (snake plant, ivy, hosta)◆ High riskNot a factorNot a factorNot a factorNot a factor
Cycasin (sago palm)◆ High riskNot a factor■ NeverNot a factorNot a factor
Colchicine (autumn crocus)■ NeverNot a factor■ Never■ NeverNot a factor
Taxine (yew)Not a factor■ NeverNot a factorNot a factor■ Never
Grayanotoxins (rhododendron, azalea)◆ High risk■ NeverNot a factorNot a factorNot a factor
Ricin (castor bean)■ NeverNot a factor■ Never■ NeverNot a factor

Source: Merck Veterinary Manual and ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, plant toxicoses in small animals

The immediate-pain group: aroids and oxalates

These are the most commonly owned toxic houseplants and the most commonly over-feared. They contain insoluble calcium oxalate raphides, needle-shaped crystals that fire mechanically into the tissue of the mouth when a dog bites down. The result is instant, genuine pain, drooling and sometimes swelling, and almost never systemic illness.

The reason to call rather than wait is swelling rather than poisoning: oral and airway swelling is uncommon but it is the complication that matters. A dog that chewed Dumb Cane and is drooling is usually going to be fine; a dog whose face is swelling is not a wait-and-see.

PlantVerdictWhy
DieffenbachiaToxicOxalate crystals cause intense mouth and throat irritation: the name 'dumb cane' refers to the drooling/voice effect.
Dumb CaneToxicASPCA lists Dumb Cane among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
AnthuriumToxicAnthurium is a plant dogs should not chew.
CaladiumToxicOxalate crystals cause painful mouth and throat irritation when chewed.
Elephant EarToxicElephant Ear (Alocasia) contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.
TaroToxicASPCA lists Taro among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
Philodendron BrasilToxicASPCA lists Philodendron Brasil among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
Satin PothosToxicASPCA lists Satin Pothos among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
Arrowhead VineToxicArrowhead vine is an aroid plant with insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.
Jack in the PulpitToxicASPCA lists Jack in the Pulpit among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
Skunk CabbageToxicASPCA lists Skunk Cabbage among plants that can be toxic to dogs.

The delayed-damage group, where waiting costs the most

This is the group that justifies the whole page. These plants do not necessarily produce a dramatic first hour, and several produce an apparent recovery before the real problem declares itself. An owner working from how the dog looks will make the wrong call.

Sago palm is the clearest case: vomiting early, an apparent improvement, then hepatic failure over the following days. Autumn crocus behaves similarly, with multi-organ effects that can be delayed. Both are call-now plants regardless of how well the dog seems.

PlantVerdictWhy
Sago palmToxic (any amount)One of the most dangerous plants for dogs.
Autumn crocusToxic (any amount)Contains colchicine, which damages multiple organs.
Castor beanToxic (any amount)Seeds contain ricin, one of the most potent plant toxins.
Prayer BeanToxicASPCA lists Prayer Bean among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
ChinaberryToxicBerries and bark contain toxins that affect the gut and nervous system.
LantanaToxicLantana contains pentacyclic triterpenoids that can cause liver injury in dogs, on top of gastrointestinal irritation.
CyclamenToxicA popular flowering plant; the roots/tubers are most toxic and can affect the heart in large amounts.
Water HemlockToxicASPCA lists Water Hemlock among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
Death CamasToxicASPCA lists Death Camas among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
JimsonweedToxicASPCA lists Jimsonweed among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
MoonseedToxicASPCA lists Moonseed among plants that can be toxic to dogs.

The heart group

Cardiac glycosides interfere with the pump that maintains the electrical gradient across heart muscle cells, and the result is arrhythmia rather than an upset stomach. Small quantities matter, and dried material stays toxic, which is the detail that catches people clearing a garden.

Oleander is the most dangerous ornamental in common cultivation: every part is toxic including dried leaves and the smoke from burning clippings. Foxglove and Lily of the valley carry related compounds, and Yew works by a different mechanism, taxine, with the same urgency.

PlantVerdictWhy
OleanderToxic (any amount)All parts contain cardiac glycosides that disrupt the heart.
FoxgloveToxic (any amount)Contains digitalis (a heart drug in plant form).
Lily of the valleyToxic (any amount)Every part contains cardiac glycosides.
YewToxic (any amount)All parts except the red berry flesh contain taxine, which can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
Japanese YewToxicASPCA lists Japanese Yew among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
European YewToxicASPCA lists European Yew among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
KalanchoeToxicA common flowering houseplant that contains heart-affecting compounds along with stomach upset.
Mother of MillionsToxicASPCA lists Mother of Millions among plants that can be toxic to dogs.
RhododendronToxicRhododendron is a plant dogs should not chew.
AzaleaToxicThe #1 reported toxic-plant exposure for dogs in 2025.
Christmas RoseToxicASPCA lists Christmas Rose among plants that can be toxic to dogs.

The lookalike traps

Several of the most dangerous entries on this list are routinely confused with something harmless, and the confusion runs in the direction that gets dogs hurt. These pairs are worth learning as pairs.

The plants that are genuinely fine

Roughly a third of the plants on this site are rated safe, and saying so clearly is part of what makes the warnings credible. An owner who has been told everything is dangerous stops listening, which is the practical cost of over-warning.

True Bamboo, Wheatgrass, Sunflower, Peperomia, Polka Dot Plant, Prayer Plant, Bromeliad, African Daisy and Aluminum Plant are all reasonable choices for a house with a dog in it. Lavender and Sage Plant are fine as plants in the quantities a dog would eat, with the caveat that concentrated essential oils made from them are a different question entirely.

Two honest qualifications. Hibiscus and Begonia appear on plenty of safe lists and can still cause mild stomach upset, particularly the begonia tuber. And any plant eaten in bulk will cause vomiting regardless of its chemistry, because a dog is not built to process a quantity of foliage.

What the plant itself is only half of

What has been put on a plant matters as much as the plant. Systemic rose and shrub feeds, slug pellets scattered at the base of hostas, and fresh fertiliser are all more dangerous than most of the foliage above them, which is what our dog-safe garden guide covers.

Two more routes owners rarely consider. Oak Acorn and other dropped material accumulate under trees, so the exposure is repeated rather than single. And cut material in a vase or a compost heap does not stop being toxic: dried Oleander is still oleander, and the vase water of some cut flowers carries leached compounds.

For indoor plants specifically, the 30 most common toxic houseplants is the shorter, curated version of this page. Christmas plants covers the seasonal set, where poinsettia is consistently over-feared and Nandina and holly are under-covered.

Signs to watch for

Drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy, tremors, an irregular or slow heartbeat, weakness, collapse, and skin redness or itching where sap has contacted the coat.

The combinations that raise urgency: any cardiac sign, any neurological sign, facial or oral swelling, and an apparent recovery after early vomiting in a dog known to have eaten sago palm or autumn crocus.

What to do next

  • Identify the plant if you can, and photograph it including a leaf and any flower or seed. A name from a plant-identifier app is a starting point, not a diagnosis.
  • Keep a sample of what was chewed, and note roughly how much and when.
  • Call a veterinarian or poison control now for any of the seven any-amount plants, for any cardiac or neurological sign, and for any facial swelling.
  • Do not induce vomiting on your own initiative: whether it helps depends on the plant and the timing.
  • Rinse the mouth with water for an oxalate plant if your dog will allow it, and offer something cold to eat or drink for the pain.
  • Wash sap off the coat and paws before your dog grooms it off.
  • Use the first ten minutes if this has just happened.

The full A-Z index

Every plant page on the site, alphabetically. Verdicts and reasoning live on the individual pages, and this index is generated from the same data, so it cannot drift out of step with them.

Animal poison control, 24/7
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

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Frequently asked questions

What is the most poisonous plant for dogs?

Sago palm, oleander, castor bean, yew, foxglove, lily of the valley and autumn crocus are the group with no safe amount. Sago palm causes acute liver failure and castor bean contains ricin, while oleander and yew act on the heart. For all seven, quantity is not the deciding factor and a call should not wait for signs.

How do I know if a plant is toxic to my dog?

Identify the plant first, then look it up rather than judging by appearance, because several of the most dangerous plants closely resemble harmless ones. Sago palm is not a palm, autumn crocus is not spring crocus, and lucky bamboo is a dracaena. The A-Z index on this page covers every plant we cover.

My dog chewed a leaf and is drooling. Is that an emergency?

Usually not on its own. Immediate drooling and mouth pain after chewing is the signature of an insoluble oxalate plant such as dieffenbachia or anthurium, which causes intense local irritation and almost never systemic illness. The reason to call is swelling of the face or airway, which is uncommon but is the complication that matters.

Are any houseplants completely safe for dogs?

A number are, and roughly a third of the plants we cover are rated safe. Peperomia, prayer plant, polka dot plant, bromeliad, true bamboo and aluminium plant are all reasonable in a house with a dog. Any plant eaten in bulk will cause vomiting, because a dog is not built to process a quantity of foliage.

Is poinsettia really dangerous to dogs?

It is consistently over-feared. Poinsettia sap is an irritant that causes drooling and mild stomach upset rather than the serious poisoning its reputation suggests. Holly, mistletoe and amaryllis are the Christmas plants that deserve more attention than poinsettia gets.

Does drying or cooking make a plant safe?

Not reliably, and for several it makes no difference at all. Dried oleander is still toxic, and clippings on a bonfire carry the compounds in the smoke. Buttercup is a rare exception where drying does deactivate the irritant. Treat cut and dried material as you would the living plant unless you have a specific reason not to.

What about the water in a vase of cut flowers?

It carries leached plant compounds along with bacteria, and for a few species that matters. It is rarely the main event compared with the plant itself, but a dog that habitually drinks from vases is worth discouraging, and the flower-food sachet is its own small hazard.

My dog eats grass and plants constantly. Should I worry?

Grass eating is common and usually not a sign of illness in itself, but a dog that indiscriminately chews houseplants is a dog that will eventually chew the wrong one. The practical answer is to audit what is in reach against this list rather than to try to stop the behaviour.

Keep reading

30 common houseplants that are toxic to dogsThe dog-safe garden guideChristmas plants toxic to dogsShould you make your dog throw up?Toxic doses by dog body weightSago palmOleanderAutumn crocusThe 25 Most Dangerous Foods for Dogs, Ranked by SeverityFruits and Vegetables Dogs Can Safely Eat (Definitive List)
Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, toxic and non-toxic plants; Merck Veterinary Manual, plant toxicoses in small animals. This article is general information, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog is in distress, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.