• Hey Everyone, There may be a thread for this already but I didn't see it. It is spring and I am looking forward to planting this year. Is there any plants I should avoid that could cause danger to my b?


  • There's a whole bunch of things you shouldn't plant - like yew - and other gardening tips - don't use cocoa mulch for example. If you search for "poison", you'll find several threads about poisonous plants here. Cornell University has a good website: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html
    Also if you contact the IL state extension service they'll have some information specific for your area.


  • Plants that can be toxic to pets, and their symptoms if ingested

    _Note This is ONLY for PLANTS, NOT THE FRUIT that plant produce, often times the fruit that plants produce are safe for pets to eat, but the plant itself is not

    Note Take note that many times pets will not bother a lot of those plants ~ like daffodils, I have them and my dogs ignore them completely.

    Note Look further into the plant itself also; to the best of my knowledge for bulb type plants it is the bulb itself that can cause the problems in pets not the leaves/flowers - like tulips or daffodils_

    Amaryllis: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyper salivation, anorexia, tremors

    Autumn Crocus: oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, bone marrow suppression

    Creeping Charlie: sweating, drooling

    Daffodil, Narcissus: severe gastrointestinal disorders, convulsions, shivering, hypotension, dermatitis, muscular tremors and cardiac arrhythmias

    Hyacinth: intense vomiting, diarrhea, occasionally with blood, depression and tremors

    Gladiolas, Iris: vomiting occasionally with blood, depression, diarrhea, occasionally with blood, hyper salivation, abdominal pain

    Lily of the Valley: ataxia, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, death

    Tulip: intense vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hyper salivation, in appetence

    Australian Nut: depression, hyperthermia, weakness, muscular stiffness, vomiting, tremors, increased heart rate. Only reported in dogs at this time.

    Asparagus Fern, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern: allergic dermatitis with
    repeated dermal exposure. Berry ingestion could result in gastric upset (vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.)

    Cyclamen: vomiting, gastrointestinal inflammation, and death.

    Hydrangea: vomiting, depression, anorexia, diarrhea, bufodienalides are cardio toxic

    Christmas Rose: abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, convulsions, delirium

    Foxglove: cardiac arrhythmias, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, delirium

    Marijuana: prolonged CNS depression, respiratory depression, weakness, ataxia, sedation, sometimes hyper excitation

    Morning Glory: seeds may cause hallucination, may cause diarrhea

    Nightshade, Tomato Plant: hyper salivation, inaptness, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate

    Glory Lily: oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, kidney and liver damage, bone marrow suppression

    Day Lily, Orange Day Lily, Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily: vomiting, inaptness, lethargy, kidney failure, (Cats are only species known to be affected.)

    Heavenly Bamboo shrub: cyanosis, pale mucous membranes, slow heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory congestion, seizures, semi-coma, respiratory failure, death

    Holly shrub: intense vomiting and diarrhea, depression, also same symptoms as Jerusalem Cherry (see below)

    Jerusalem Cherry shrub: gastrointestinal disturbances, possible ulceration of the gastrointestinal system, seizures, depression, respiratory depression, and shock

    Mistletoe "American" shrub: gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular collapse, dyspnea bradycardia, erratic behavior, hallucinogenic in humans

    Oleander shrub: vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac abnormalities, decreased body temperature, death

    Precatory Bean shrub: beans are very toxic, especially if broken or chewed. Can see severe vomiting and diarrhea, increased body temperature, lack of coordination, inaptness and death

    Cycads, Sago Palm Shrubs: vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death
    Tree Philodendron

    Yucca: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, drooling, seizures

    Aloe (Aloe Vera): vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color

    Avocado: vomiting, diarrhea, death, inflammation of mammary glands, cardiac failure, respiratory distress, generalized congestion, fluid accumulation around the heart

    Buddhist Pine: severe vomiting and diarrhea

    Chinaberry Tree: Berries are most toxic. Can see slow heart rate, diarrhea, vomiting, depression, weakness, seizures, and shock

    Japanese Yew (aka Yew): sudden death from acute cardiac failure, early signs muscular tremors, dyspnea, and seizures in dogs

    Macadamia Nut:
    Queensland Nut
    : depression, hyperthermia, weakness, muscular stiffness, vomiting, tremors, increased heart rate. Only reported in dogs at this time.

    Branching Ivy: allergic dermatitis with repeated dermal exposure. Berry ingestion could result in gastric upset (vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea)

    European Bittersweet: drooling, in appetence, severe gastric upset, drowsiness, lethargy, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate

    English Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy: (The foliage is more toxic than the berries.) gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, hyperactivity, breathing difficulty, coma, fever, polydipsia, dilated pupils, muscular weakness, and lack of coordination

    American Bittersweet: weakness, convulsions, gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea)
    Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Rhododendron: vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death

    Bird of Paradise: gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, vomiting, lack of coordination is possible. Deaths in rabbits have been reported

    Buckeye: severe gastroenteritis, depression or hyper excitability, dilated pupils, coma

    Castor Bean: (beans are very toxic): oral irritation burning of the mouth and throat, increase in thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions

    Clematis: vomiting, diarrhea, oral ulcers, ataxia or vesicant action

    Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Gold Dust Dracaena, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Ribbon Plant, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Warneckei Dracaena: In cats: dilated pupils, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, increased heart rate. In cats and dogs: vomiting depression, in appetence, drooling, lack of coordination and weakness.

    Caladium hortulanum, Calla lily, Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Phiodendron, Charming Diffenbachia, Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Devil' Ivy, Dub Crane, Elephant Ears, Fruit Salad Plant, Flamingo Plant, Golden Deiffenbachia, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthyti, Peace Lity, Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Lacy Tree, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-Law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Saddle Lef Philodendron, Poinsettia, Satin Pothos, Scheffiera Tree, Spotted Dumb Cane, Swiss Cheese Plant, Taro Vine, Tropic Snow Dumbcane, Variable, (Dumb Cane) Dieffenbachia, Veriegated Philodendron: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing

    Yellow Jasmine: Convulsions, death

    Sweetheart Ivy: gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, hyperactivity, breathing difficulty, coma, fever, polydipsia, dilated pupils, muscular weakness and lack of coordination

    Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow: Depression, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, convulsions, increase urinations, lack of coordination, hyperthermia
    Should your pet eat a substantial part of a toxic plant, rush to your veterinarian as soon as possible. Time can cause a lot of damage. If you can, take the plant or part of it with you for identification.


  • Additional information for my above post, cross post

    Japanese Yew (aka Yew): sudden death from acute cardiac failure, early signs muscular tremors, dyspnea, and seizures in dogs

    Most people have them and they are probably one of the most dangerous & toxic plants in your yard. I read that just a few leaves/needles or bark has been enough to kill a cow or a goat.

    While Hemlock, the conifer, is not poisonous!

    The Yew plant is an ornamental yard plant, most often used in landscaping around the foundation of a house. It is an extremely poisonous plant and the animal needs to eat only one-tenth of one percent of its body weight to get a toxic dose. (For example, a 50 pound dog would need only .05 pounds or less than 2 ounces of the plant to get a potentially fatal dose!)

    The toxin in the Yew is an alkaloid and works by depressing electrical activity in the heart. Signs may include sudden death from heart failure. If the animal shows clinical signs of toxicosis other than sudden death those could include: trembling, incoordination, diarrhea, and collapse.

    We rarely recognize clinical cases of Japanese Yew poisoning in animals at the University, although that may be partly because of the difficulty in proving the presence of the toxin as well as the great toxicity. In cases where animals are found dead it is very difficult to prove the Yew caused the death unless the animal is necropsied (a veterinary term for an autopsy) and evidence of ingestion - evidence that the animal actually ate the plant ? is found. There are no specific blood or chemical tests to determine if Yew toxicity is present. While Yew poisoning does not seem to be very common, the best advice is to know what ornamental plants are present around your house and other buildings and to make sure the Yew is not one of them!

    When triming your bushes or hedges, be sure to clean up all those killer needles.


  • I'd imagine that you should also keep aware of standing water near these plants specifically because it can make a 'tea' of sorts and could also be quite dangerous.


  • Azaleas and some other Rhododendrons. The problem with these 2 is that they aren't often cross categorized as the same. When you go to check if your plant is an Azalea, it's often listed under Rhododendron, you miss the connection. An Azalea is a species of the Genus Rhododendron, poisonous to dogs.


  • Wow, thank you all for the information. My husband doesn't like plants/flowers anyway so I guess none for us.


  • Ironic about Yews, the most common plant at most houses as foundation plants and are unfortunately one of the most poisonous-

    Even dry, the Yew is dangerous if ingested. A tiny amount ingested can kill a cow or horse. It attacks the central nervous system, causing death. A horribly toxic plant that, most people have in their yards.

    I have them in my yard, it seems the dogs have little interest in them.

    I bought some Japanese ornamental grass that they loved to eat. It never had a chance. Luckily it's not poisonous.

    Castor Bean: (beans are very toxic): oral irritation burning of the mouth and throat, increase in thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions

    Castor Beans plants are actually Illegal in many states due to the fact its used to make the poison Ricin, which was banned because of terrorists. It's a highly poisonous yet beautiful ornimental plant.


  • Looking at these lists, is there any outdoor plants that aren't poisonous???


  • WOW - what a list of plants that are poisonous - living in Florida, we don't know what half of the plants, flowers are around here but looks like we'd better learn them all. Plus we go camping - who knew?? Guess we'd best be sure she just doesn't eat anything growing. Scary.


  • Bellabasenji - there are lots more plants that don't cause problems so don't worry. Besides, a lot of dogs just ignore most plants. Like anything one just needs to keep an eye on our furbabies.


  • Try plants for spring:
    1. Mahonia gentle touch is perfect for adding texture to the shadow areas in your yard.
    2. Delta Jazz Crapemyrtle brilliant features pink flowers with bright dye their unique cup-shaped leaves and dark burgundy.
    3. Gardenia is an improvement joy charm a favorite in the South, which re-fragrant flowers in summer and fall.
    4. Crapemyrtle Advance is available in three color choices and has excellent skills and re-bloom to 100 to 120 days of color.
    5. Purple Diamond Loropetalum compact foliage gives deep rich purple color that keeps its color all season.

    And without spring Prune flowering shrubs and trees. If you do not prune shrubs and trees in fall or winter, this is the perfect time to do the job. Prune before new growth and warm weather helps keep shrubs and trees to be susceptible to disease. He is also getting rid of old branches, and blooms from ugly last year and the preparation of fresh flowers, beautiful new year. As anticipated benefit Crapemyrtle and Big Daddy Hydrangea pruning at this time, do not prune shrubs and trees are in bloom in spring. During late winter, spring flowering shrubs and trees have been setting new buds and if you cut the branches now, also cut the spring buds and flowers. Spring flowering shrubs and trees should not be pruned until after their flowering season is over, for example, Esmeralda Loropetalum snow must be in the form of pruning or after flowering in spring.


  • In my experience my Basenjis have always seenmed to know what plants and flowers they can and can't eat. I've never had to worry and it interests me that some of you haven't had that experience. I would welcome more input and opinions.


  • LOL my input is that I don't risk my dogs knowing what is toxic and what isn't.


  • After a long time I've learnt to trust my Basenjis (but not I should add all my dogs). They also spend some time in digging for roots which I always assume are for medicinal purposes as the oldest part of our house has the remains of an ancient herbal garden.

    Our sheep also do the same!

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