The backyard is one of the most exciting places your dog knows, and dogs explore it the way they explore everything else: with their mouths. That is where the trouble starts, because many common yard and garden plants are poisonous to dogs.
Most of these plants upset the stomach and gut: drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. A smaller group affects the heart, liver, kidneys or nervous system, and a few, including sago palm, yew, oleander and castor bean, can kill a dog. If you think your dog has eaten any plant on this list, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line now. Don't wait for signs, because with some plants they take days to appear.
Quick Reference: Common Yard Plants and What They Do to Dogs
The table draws on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control list of plants toxic to dogs and its plant entries, Pet Poison Helpline, the Merck Veterinary Manual and, for oak and golden chain, the UK charity Guide Dogs. The last column uses the sources' wording. It is not a prediction for your dog, and any plant on this list is a reason to call.
Plant | Most toxic part | Main signs in dogs | Most serious effects reported |
|---|---|---|---|
Sago palm | All parts, seeds most | Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, black tarry stool, thirst, bruising | Liver failure, bleeding problems, death |
Yew | All parts except the red berry flesh | Vomiting, tremors, difficulty breathing, seizures | Sudden death from heart failure |
Oleander | All parts | Drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression | Irregular heart rate and rhythm, collapse, death |
Castor bean | Seeds (beans) | Burning mouth and throat, thirst, vomiting, diarrhea | Kidney failure, convulsions, coma, death |
Autumn crocus | Not specified | Bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock | Multi-organ damage, bone marrow suppression; signs can take days |
Lily of the valley | Not specified | Vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation | Seizures, coma |
Azalea and rhododendron | Not specified | Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness | Heart rhythm problems, low blood pressure, seizures, cardiac failure |
Daffodil | Bulb | Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea | Convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, heart rhythm problems |
Golden chain (laburnum) | All parts | Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, tremors | Can be life-threatening |
Privet | Not specified | Stomach upset, incoordination, fast heart rate | Death (rare) |
Burning bush | Not specified | Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness | Heart rhythm problems after large amounts |
Ornamental allium (onion family) | Not specified | Vomiting, weakness, panting, fast heart rate | Red blood cell damage (anemia), blood in urine |
Hyacinth | Bulb | Intense vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), depression, tremors | Faster heart rate and breathing changes after large bulb amounts |
Tulip | Bulb | Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, depression | Stomach and gut upset |
Wisteria | Seeds (in the pea-like pods) | Vomiting (sometimes bloody), diarrhea, depression | Dehydration, weakness, collapse |
Lantana | Not specified | Vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, weakness | Stomach and gut upset in pets; liver failure mainly in livestock |
Morning glory | Seeds | Vomiting | Hallucinations after eating many seeds |
Iris | Rhizome (underground stem) | Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy | Stomach and gut upset |
Mums (chrysanthemum) | Not specified | Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, incoordination, skin inflammation | Stomach and gut upset |
English ivy | Leaves (more than berries) | Vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea | Stomach and gut upset |
Begonia | Underground parts | Vomiting, drooling | Stomach upset in dogs; kidney failure in grazing animals |
American holly | Not specified | Vomiting, diarrhea, depression | Stomach and gut upset |
Oak (acorns) | Acorns | Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort | Gut blockage; rarely kidney damage |
Elephant ears | Not specified | Mouth pain and swelling, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing | Very rarely, upper airway swelling |
Peace lily | Not specified | Mouth burning, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing | Mouth and throat irritation |
Aloe vera | Leaf (the gel is considered edible) | Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy | Stomach and gut upset |
Mistletoe | Not specified | Vomiting, diarrhea | Slow heart rate, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure (rare) |
Yellow dock | Not specified | Drooling, tremors | Kidney failure (rare in dogs) |
"Not specified" means our sources don't single out one part, so treat the whole plant as a risk. Bleeding heart, baneberry and bloodroot are covered in the list below; their effects on dogs are less well documented.
The Dangers of Poisonous Plants to Your Dogs
Plant poisoning in dogs ranges from a sore mouth to organ failure. Many plants here contain calcium oxalate crystals, microscopic needle-like crystals that make the mouth and throat painful and swollen. Others go further: kidney damage after castor bean or autumn crocus, liver failure after sago palm, and heart rhythm problems after yew, oleander, lily of the valley or azalea. The worst cases end in seizures, coma or death.
A List of Plants Poisonous to Dogs
The list is grouped by type of plant, so you can check what is growing in your own yard. The table has the signs; the notes below cover what it can't.
Cold Hardy Perennial Flowers
Iris
Iris often grows from a rhizome, a thick underground stem, and that is where its irritating compounds are most concentrated. Dogs that dig are the ones most likely to get into it.
Mums
Are mums poisonous to dogs? Yes. According to the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), garden mums contain sesquiterpene lactones and pyrethrins, which explains the mix of stomach upset and skin inflammation.
Lily of the Valley
Despite its name, lily of the valley is not a true lily. It contains cardenolides, compounds that act on the heart, which puts it among the more dangerous plants here.
Bleeding Hearts
This shade-loving flower contains alkaloids that may cause neurological signs. Pet Poison Helpline considers the risk lower for dogs and cats than for cattle and sheep.
Vines
Morning Glory
Morning glory seeds contain indole alkaloids, including lysergic acid compounds, which is where the risk of hallucinations comes from.
English Ivy
English ivy is a woody vine often used as ground cover. Its triterpenoid saponins are poorly absorbed, so the Merck Veterinary Manual describes the effects as limited.
Wisteria
Wisteria has toxins throughout the plant, but Pet Poison Helpline notes they are concentrated in the seeds, which grow in pea-like pods. The ASPCA lists a lectin and a glycoside called wisterin, and the vomiting can include blood.
Annuals
Begonia
Begonias contain soluble calcium oxalates, mostly in the underground parts. Dogs usually get vomiting and drooling; the kidney failure linked to begonia has been reported in grazing animals.
Lantana
Lantana, a hanging-basket favorite, contains pentacyclic triterpenoids. It can cause liver failure, but the ASPCA notes this is more common in livestock than in pets.
Shrubs
Yew Bushes
Yews are evergreen conifers common in hedges, and among the most dangerous plants in any yard. They contain taxine, and Pet Poison Helpline warns that eating any part of a yew is a concern. The red berry flesh is the one exception; the seed inside it is highly toxic.
Privet
Privet is a hedge shrub whose black berries can attract dogs. It contains terpenoid glycosides, and stomach upset is the usual result.
Burning Bush
Burning bush is grown for its crimson color. Besides alkaloids, it contains cardenolides, the same kind of heart-acting compound as lily of the valley.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the same plant family and contain grayanotoxins, which can affect the heart. Any chewing on these plants is worth a call.
You may see Rose of Sharon (hardy hibiscus) on older lists of toxic shrubs. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs.
Trees
Oak Trees
For dogs, the oak problem is mostly acorns: they contain tannins and can block the digestive tract. The ASPCA lists oak as toxic to horses rather than dogs, so the dog-specific information here comes from Guide Dogs.
Golden Chain
Golden chain, also called laburnum, contains alkaloids in all parts. It causes both stomach and neurological signs, and Guide Dogs describes laburnum poisoning as potentially life-threatening.
Oleander
Pet Poison Helpline calls oleander extremely toxic. Every part contains cardiac glycosides, including oleandrin, which can slow the heart and disturb its rhythm.
American Holly
American holly contains saponins. The signs are mostly stomach and gut upset.
Bulb Plants
With bulb plants, the bulb is usually the most toxic part, which matters for dogs that dig.
Tulips
Tulips contain allergenic lactones (tulipalin A and B), concentrated in the bulb.
Daffodils
Daffodils contain lycorine, and the bulbs are the most poisonous part. Most cases mean vomiting and diarrhea; large ingestions can affect blood pressure, the heart and the nervous system.
Lilies
Lilies cause confusion because two very different groups share the name. Peace lilies are not true lilies. They contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that burn the mouth, which is unpleasant but usually minor.
True lilies (Easter, tiger, Asiatic and other Lilium species) are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs. True lilies and daylilies are, however, an emergency for cats: even small exposures can cause kidney failure. If you also share your home with a cat, see our guide to plants toxic to cats.
Allium
Ornamental alliums belong to the onion family. Onions and garlic damage dogs' red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia (the breakdown of red blood cells), and Japanese breeds such as the Akita and Shiba Inu are more sensitive. The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline list edible onions and garlic rather than each ornamental species, so treat ornamental alliums with the same caution. The kitchen versions are covered in human foods toxic to dogs.
Hyacinths
The bulb is the most toxic part of a hyacinth, and the vomiting it causes can be intense.
Autumn Crocus
Autumn crocus contains colchicine and is highly toxic. Don't confuse it with the spring-blooming crocus, a different plant that usually causes milder stomach upset. If you aren't sure which one your dog ate, call your veterinarian right away.
Tropical Plants
These show up in warm-climate yards and summer containers.
Elephant Ears
Are elephant ears poisonous to dogs? Yes. They contain the same mouth-irritating insoluble calcium oxalate crystals as peace lilies. Pet Poison Helpline rates the risk for dogs as mild.
Aloe Vera
Aloe is used in skin-care products, and the ASPCA considers the gel edible. The rest of the leaf contains saponins and anthraquinones, which cause the vomiting and diarrhea.
Castor Bean
Castor bean is a tall tropical plant whose beans (seeds) contain ricin.
Sago Palm
Sago palms (cycads) are popular in warm-climate yards and pots, and among the most dangerous plants for dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that dogs are extremely sensitive and that every part is toxic, the seeds most of all. The toxin, cycasin, attacks the liver; yellow gums or eyes and unexplained bruising are signs that the liver and blood clotting are affected.
Weeds and Other Wild Plants
Mistletoe
Mistletoe, a Christmas decoration, contains lectins and phoratoxins, and most cases involve vomiting and diarrhea.
Yellow Dock
Yellow dock and related sorrels contain soluble calcium oxalates. Kidney failure is possible but rare in dogs.
Baneberry
Baneberry, also known as doll's-eye, grows in wildflower gardens. All parts contain glycosides that irritate the mouth and gut.
Bloodroot
Bloodroot, also called red root or puccoon, is a wildflower that contains sanguinarine. Pet Poison Helpline advises caution around all animals, but its effects on dogs are not well documented, so call your veterinarian if your dog eats any.
Signs That My Dog Ate a Poisonous Plant
If you suspect your dog ate a poisonous plant, watch for:
- Drooling or difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with blood
- Abdominal pain or loss of appetite
- Weakness, lethargy or incoordination
- Breathing problems
- A heart rate that is too fast, too slow or irregular
- Muscle tremors or seizures
- Collapse or coma
A dog that seems fine is not necessarily in the clear. Some plants, such as autumn crocus, take days to cause signs, so call even if your dog is acting normally.
What Should You Do When Your Dog Eats a Poisonous Plant?
- Stop your dog from eating more and keep them with you.
- Call your veterinarian or a poison control line right away. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is at (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Pet Poison Helpline is at (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply for either service.
- Don't try to make your dog vomit, and don't give milk, water, hydrogen peroxide or any home remedy unless your veterinarian or poison control tells you to. The ASPCA warns that inducing vomiting at home can be dangerous, and milk and water don't work.
- Identify the plant. Bring a piece of it, the plant label or a clear photo, and note what your dog ate, when, and roughly how much.
- Go in if you are told to. Your veterinarian decides on treatment based on your dog's weight, the plant and the exposure.
How to Pet-Proof Your Yard or Garden
Fence the yard. A secure fence keeps your dog out of neighboring yards and away from plants you can't control.
Get rid of toxic plants. Your dog might mistake a bulb or a stick for a toy or a snack. When you replant, pick from the non-toxic section of the ASPCA's plant list. If your dog plays in the garden, use dog-friendly fertilizers and pesticides, and store garden products out of reach.
Designate a dog area. A play area away from flower beds, stocked with toys, gives your dog somewhere better to be.
Supervise your dog. Puppies explore with their mouths, so watching them outside is the most reliable protection.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants for Dogs (and the individual plant entries it links to)
- ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Center
- ASPCA: Is It Ever Safe to Induce Vomiting?
- Pet Poison Helpline: Top Poisonous Plants to Pets
- Pet Poison Helpline: Japanese Yew
- Pet Poison Helpline: Oleander
- Pet Poison Helpline: Wisteria
- Pet Poison Helpline: Rhododendron
- Pet Poison Helpline: Tulips and Hyacinths
- Pet Poison Helpline: Garlic
- Pet Poison Helpline: Elephant Ear
- Pet Poison Helpline: Golden Chain
- Pet Poison Helpline: Bleeding Heart
- Pet Poison Helpline: Baneberry
- Pet Poison Helpline: Bloodroot
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals
- Guide Dogs: Plants and Other Outdoor Toxins
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
