Plants with Documented Pet Toxicity

Alocasia

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion. ASPCA lists Alocasia spp. for dogs, cats and horses, with insoluble calcium oxalates causing oral irritation and difficulty swallowing. Vomiting is listed for dogs/cats, not horses. This is genus-level evidence, not a cultivar-specific dose or outcome study. Sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Alocasias include compact, textured houseplants and large elephant ears that need substantial floor…

Alocasia Dragon Scale

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion. ASPCA lists Alocasia spp. for dogs, cats and horses, with insoluble calcium oxalates causing oral irritation and difficulty swallowing. Vomiting is listed for dogs/cats, not horses. This is genus-level evidence, not a cultivar-specific dose or outcome study. Sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Alocasia Dragon Scale has thick, quilted-looking leaves with dark veins.

Alocasia Polly

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion. ASPCA lists Alocasia spp. for dogs, cats and horses, with insoluble calcium oxalates causing oral irritation and difficulty swallowing. Vomiting is listed for dogs/cats, not horses. This is genus-level evidence, not a cultivar-specific dose or outcome study. Sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Alocasia Polly is a compact hybrid grown for dark arrow-shaped leaves, pale veins, and wavy edges.

Aloe Vera

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Leaf material; ASPCA's Barbados Aloe and Aloe records name saponins and anthraquinones, with vomiting (not in horses), lethargy and diarrhea, and state that the gel is considered edible.

Aloe vera stores water in its thick, gel-filled leaves and can survive weeks without attention —…

Anthurium

Toxic to dogs, cats

NC State lists toxicity to cats and dogs from calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing can irritate the mouth and throat; suspected exposure needs veterinary advice. This record does not establish a horse-specific classification.

Flowering Anthurium needs bright indirect light, warmth, and a potting mix that holds moisture…

Apple Tree

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Stems, leaves and seeds; ASPCA's Apple record, listed as Malus sylvestris (a name GRIN-Global records as misapplied to Malus domestica), names cyanogenic glycosides, with brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock, worst while leaves are wilting.

Apple trees can be excellent backyard fruit trees when the variety, rootstock, pollination partner…

Arrowhead Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

ASPCA lists ingestion toxicity for dogs, cats and horses from insoluble calcium oxalates. Vomiting is listed for dogs/cats, not horses. Sap can cause contact irritation. No harmless dose or treatment outcome established.

Arrowhead Plant starts with a compact habit and arrow-shaped leaves, then develops longer climbing…

Avocado Tree

Toxic to horses

Plant material; ASPCA names persin, with respiratory distress, heart failure and edema in horses. The record does not rate dogs or cats.

Avocado tree is a subtropical evergreen fruit tree for frost-free gardens, warm patios, and bright…

Azalea

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of plant material containing grayanotoxins. No safe dose or home treatment is established.

Azaleas bring spring flowers, and some cultivars bloom again later in the year.

Bay Laurel

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of leaves; ASPCA names eugenol and other essential oils, with vomiting and diarrhea, and warns that a large ingestion of whole leaves can cause obstruction.

Bay laurel is a tree grown as a container plant, which is why every decision about it looks the way…

Bearded Iris

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material, most concentrated in the rhizomes; ASPCA's Iris species record lists salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy and diarrhea. NC State tags Iris germanica (now Iris x germanica) a problem for cats, dogs and horses.

Bearded iris are tough, sun-loving perennials grown from shallow rhizomes, not deep bulbs.

Begonia Maculata

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material, most toxic underground; ASPCA's Begonia spp. record names soluble calcium oxalates, with vomiting and salivation in dogs and cats and kidney failure in grazing animals.

Begonia Maculata is the spotted cane begonia people buy for dark wing shaped leaves dotted with…

Moderate

Begonia Rex

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material, most toxic underground; ASPCA's Begonia spp. and Rex Begonia records name soluble calcium oxalates, with vomiting and salivation in dogs and cats and kidney failure in grazing animals.

Rex Begonias are rhizomatous foliage plants grown for asymmetric leaves patterned in silver, green…

Bigleaf Hydrangea

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of plant material; the listing does not establish a safe dose.

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) produces mophead or lacecap flowers, but winter survival…

Bird of Paradise

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

ASPCA lists gastrointestinal irritants, chiefly in fruit and seeds. This is the Strelitzia reginae entry, not a different plant sharing the common name. Suspected ingestion needs prompt veterinary advice.

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) needs a sunny indoor position and a well-drained root zone.

Bleeding Heart

Toxic to dogs, cats

NC State lists all parts (flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap, seeds and stems) as poisonous and flags cats and dogs. It names isoquinoline alkaloids, with trembling, staggering, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and labored breathing. No horse classification was found.

A Bleeding Heart banks a fixed budget in its rhizomes and spends all of it on four to six weeks of…

Boxwood

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of leaves; ASPCA lists Buxus spp. for dogs, cats and horses and names alkaloids, with vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats and colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure and seizures in horses. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Boxwood works when you need a small evergreen line that stays clipped, dense, and quiet year-round…

Cherry Blossom Tree

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of stems, leaves and seeds; ASPCA lists Prunus spp. for dogs, cats and horses and names cyanogenic glycosides, most dangerous while leaves wilt, with brick-red gums, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock.

Cherry blossom tree is a common name for ornamental cherries grown for spring flowers rather than a…

Chinese Evergreen

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Leaves and sap; NC State's Aglaonema genus entry names calcium oxalate crystals as a concern for dogs, cats and horses, with mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. ASPCA's Chinese Evergreen record covers Aglaonema modestum with the same toxic listing.

Chinese Evergreen care starts with matching leaf color to the light you actually have.

Chives

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA names n-propyl disulfide, with vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (Heinz body anemia), blood in urine, weakness, high heart rate and panting. NC State tags it a problem for cats, dogs and horses.

Chives are an Allium, in the same genus as onion and garlic, and that explains the flavor, the…

Chrysanthemum

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Chrysanthemum spp. record names sesquiterpene lactones and pyrethrins, with vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination and dermatitis. NC State records Chrysanthemum morifolium as a former name of Chrysanthemum x morifolium and tags it a problem for cats, dogs and horses.

Garden mums are the compact chrysanthemums most people buy for fall color.

Clematis

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA lists Clematis spp. for dogs, cats and horses and names the irritant glycoside protoanemonin, with salivation, vomiting and diarrhea.

A Clematis grips with its leaf stalks, so it can only climb something thin, and every cut you make…

Corn Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

ASPCA lists Corn Plant as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of saponins. Suspected ingestion needs prompt veterinary advice; no safe dose is established here.

Corn plant, Dracaena fragrans, needs filtered light, a draining potting mix, and watering adjusted…

Daffodil

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

All plant parts, the bulb most of all; ASPCA names lycorine and other alkaloids, with vomiting, salivation and diarrhea, and convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and heart rhythm changes after large ingestions.

Daffodils are hardy fall-planted bulbs grown for reliable spring flowers, deer resistance, and…

Daylily

Toxic to cats

ASPCA lists day lilies (Hemerocallis spp.) as toxic to cats, with vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, kidney failure and death, and as non-toxic to dogs. NC State also flags cats. Neither record classifies horses.

Brown, tired flower beds that burn out by July usually come from fussy plants that quit in heat or…

Dieffenbachia

Toxic to dogs, cats

ASPCA lists Dieffenbachia toxic to dogs and cats, with insoluble calcium oxalates and a proteolytic enzyme. This genus listing does not list horses; absence is not evidence of safety. NC separately flags horses for D. seguine. Sap may injure skin and eyes; no dose/outcome guarantee.

Dieffenbachia grows broad patterned leaves on upright, fleshy canes.

Dracaena

Toxic to dogs, cats

ASPCA lists Dracaena species as toxic to dogs and cats because of saponins. Suspected ingestion needs prompt veterinary or animal poison advice. This record does not establish horse safety or a safe dose.

Woody Dracaena plants need useful indirect light and a root ball that loses moisture between…

Dracaena Marginata

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

ASPCA lists Madagascar dragon tree as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of saponins. Suspected ingestion needs prompt veterinary advice; the listing does not establish a safe dose.

Dracaena marginata grows best in bright indirect light, with a draining potting mix that partly…

Eggplant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of leaves, flowers, stems or roots; NC State flags cats, dogs and horses and rates it high severity, with throat burning, nausea, vomiting and irregular heart rhythm. No ASPCA record was found.

Eggplant succeeds when you treat it as one of the hottest-slot crops in the whole yard.

Elephant Ear

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names insoluble calcium oxalates, with oral irritation, swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting (not horses) and difficulty swallowing. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Elephant Ear is a tropical aroid grown for oversized, shield-shaped leaves.

English Ivy

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of plant material; no safe dose is established. Sap contact may also irritate skin.

English Ivy is a cool-room trailing vine with small lobed leaves and woody stems.

Moderate

English Lavender

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

English lavender plant material; concentrated oils need separate exposure advice.

English Lavender is a woody Mediterranean subshrub grown for fragrant purple flower spikes, silvery…

Ficus Audrey

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

NC State species record lists problems for dogs, cats and horses and warns about ingestion and sap contact. This is species-level evidence applied to the named Audrey cultivar, not a dose threshold or a claim that every animal has identical symptoms.

Ficus Audrey is a pale-veined indoor tree grown from the banyan species Ficus benghalensis.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

NC State species record lists problems for dogs, cats and horses and warns about ingestion and sap contact. This is species-level evidence, not a dose threshold or a claim that every animal has identical symptoms.

Fiddle leaf fig needs bright, filtered light and a pot that drains.

Fig Tree

Toxic to cats, dogs, horses

Milky sap; NC State tags Ficus carica a problem for cats, dogs and horses and lists phytophotodermatitis from furanocoumarins in the sap. ASPCA's Fig record covers Ficus benjamina, not this species.

Fig trees are small deciduous fruit trees or large shrubs grown for soft late-summer fruit, bold…

Gardenia

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names geniposide and gardenoside, with mild vomiting or diarrhea and hives. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Gardenia earns its space with fragrance, but it is not a forgiving background shrub.

Garlic

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names n-propyl disulfide, with vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), blood in urine, weakness, high heart rate and panting. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Garlic is a calendar crop more than a summer crop. Big cloves, fall planting depth, spring leaf…

Golden Pothos

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Chewing or ingesting plant material exposes dogs, cats, and horses to insoluble calcium oxalates. Sap can irritate human skin. The cited sources do not establish a safe dose.

Golden pothos is a trailing or climbing houseplant with green leaves splashed with gold.

Grape Vine

Toxic to dogs

Grapes and raisins eaten by dogs. The ASPCA names the fruit, not the leaves or vine, and says the toxic component is speculated to be tartaric acid, with kidney damage possible.

A sunny fence, arbor, or wire trellis can become a productive fruiting vine, but the crop needs…

Heartleaf Philodendron

Toxic to dogs, cats

Ingestion of plant material containing calcium oxalate crystals; sap contact may also irritate skin. No safe dose is established.

Heartleaf Philodendron grows as a glossy green climber or trailing vine.

Holly

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of leaves or berries. ASPCA's holly record (filed under Ilex opaca and naming English holly, inkberry and winterberry) lists saponins, with vomiting, diarrhea and depression, and rates the leaves and berries as low toxicity.

Most hollies carry berries only on female plants, and only when a male of a compatible type blooms…

Moderate

Hosta

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of Hosta plant material; all parts are listed as toxic.

Gardeners crave color in shade beds, and Hosta delivers with bold foliage instead of fussy flowers…

Jade Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion. ASPCA lists Jade as Crassula argentea, a synonym of Crassula ovata documented by NC State. The toxic principle is unknown; no safe dose or symptom-free waiting period is established.

Jade Plant is a branching succulent that becomes woody with age.

Japanese Cherry Tree

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of stems, leaves and seeds; ASPCA lists cherry (Prunus spp.) for dogs, cats and horses and names cyanogenic glycosides, most dangerous while leaves wilt. NC State's Prunus serrulata record also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Japanese Cherry is a short-season show tree with real structural limits.

Kalanchoe

Toxic to dogs, cats

Plant material; ASPCA's Kalanchoe spp. record names bufadienolides, with vomiting, diarrhea and, rarely, abnormal heart rhythm.

Kalanchoe care is about keeping a compact flowering succulent alive after the sale bloom fades.

Lantana

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of plant material. Sterile cultivars are not established as non-toxic.

Lantana supplies clusters of flowers in sunny summer beds and containers.

Lemon Tree

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

NC State flags dogs, cats, and horses. Skins and plant material can cause problems; human-edible fruit does not establish pet safety or a safe dose.

True lemon trees such as Eureka and Lisbon produce tart fruit on evergreen trees.

Lemongrass

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA names essential oils and cyanogenic glycosides, with stomach upset in dogs and cats and difficulty breathing, weakness and, rarely, death in horses. NC State tags it a problem for cats, dogs and horses.

Lemongrass is a tender tropical grass that does almost nothing until summer heat arrives and then…

Lily

Toxic to cats

Any part of a true Lilium plant; ASPCA lists kidney failure in cats. The same record lists lilies as non-toxic to dogs and horses.

True lilies are Lilium bulbs grown for tall summer stems, dramatic flowers, fragrance, and…

Lucky Bamboo

Toxic to dogs, cats

NC State lists this species as toxic if ingested by cats or dogs. The listing does not establish a safe dose or certify vase water as safe to drink.

Lucky bamboo is Dracaena sanderiana, a tropical houseplant that can grow in water or potting mix.

Marble Queen Pothos

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Cultivar of Epipremnum aureum, the species ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Chewing or ingestion exposes tissues to insoluble calcium oxalates. Sap may irritate human skin; no safe dose is established.

Marble Queen pothos has white-and-green marbled leaves on trailing or climbing vines.

Meyer Lemon

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

NC State includes Citrus X meyeri under Citrus x limon and flags dogs, cats, and horses. Plant material and peel exposure are concerns; human-edible fruit does not establish pet safety. No cultivar-specific toxic dose is established here.

Meyer lemon produces fragrant flowers and thin-skinned, sweet-tart fruit on a relatively small…

Mint

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA notes vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions. Concentrated oils are not covered by a culinary-use claim.

Mint spreads two ways at once. Its square stems root wherever they touch the ground and its…

Monstera

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of plant material containing calcium oxalate crystals; sap contact may also irritate skin. No safe dose is established.

Monstera Deliciosa grows upward as a climbing vine, and its newest leaves become larger and more…

Monstera Adansonii

Toxic to dogs, cats

Ingestion of plant material containing calcium oxalate crystals; sap contact may also irritate skin. No safe dose is established.

Swiss Cheese Plant is the common-name houseplant people buy for smaller holey Monstera leaves…

Mountain Laurel

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names grayanotoxins, with vomiting (not in horses), diarrhea, weakness and cardiac failure. NC State rates all parts high severity and flags cats, dogs and horses.

Mountain Laurel is a native broadleaf evergreen for acidic woodland edges, not a fast privacy…

Nandina

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names cyanogenic glycosides, with weakness, incoordination, seizures, coma, respiratory failure and, rarely in pets, death. NC State lists fruits, leaves and stems at high severity and flags cats, dogs and horses.

Nandina is a tough color shrub, but it is not a harmless bamboo substitute.

Neon Pothos

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Cultivar of Epipremnum aureum, the species ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Chewing or ingestion exposes tissues to insoluble calcium oxalates. Sap can irritate human skin; no safe dose is established.

Neon pothos produces bright yellow-green new leaves that can become greener as they mature.

Oak Tree

Toxic to horses

ASPCA lists Quercus species as toxic to horses (gallotannin), with abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea, discolored urine and jaundice, and notes acorns can obstruct the digestive tract. The record gives no dog or cat classification.

Oak trees are long-lived shade trees whose mature size, species group, roots, and disease risks…

Oleander

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

ASPCA lists ingestion toxicity in dogs, cats and horses from cardiac glycosides. Fresh and dry parts remain poisonous. Sap can cause contact irritation. No harmless dose or treatment outcome is established.

Oleander is an evergreen flowering shrub for sunny, warm sites.

Onion

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names n-propyl disulfide, with vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), blood in urine, weakness, high heart rate and panting. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Most failed Onion crops are not a watering mystery. They are a day-length mismatch or a late start…

Oregano

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Oregano record covers Greek oregano, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, and lists gastrointestinal irritants with mild vomiting and diarrhea.

Two oregano plants of the same species can taste completely different, because seed-grown plants do…

Parsley

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of large amounts; ASPCA names furanocoumarins, causing photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis).

Parsley is a hardy biennial grown as an annual, and the gap between those two is what makes a…

Peace Lily

Toxic to dogs, cats

Chewed plant material can cause oral irritation and swallowing difficulty; this does not describe the kidney hazard of true lilies.

Peace lilies are clumping Spathiphyllum plants with glossy leaves and white spathes surrounding…

Peach Tree

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Stems, leaves and seeds (pits); ASPCA names cyanogenic glycosides, with brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock, worst while leaves are wilting.

Peach trees are fast-bearing backyard fruit trees, but they are not plant-and-forget trees.

Peony

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Peony record, listed as Paeonia officinalis, names paeonol, with vomiting, diarrhea and depression. The record is species-level and this profile covers garden peonies as a group.

Peonies are long-lived spring perennials grown for huge flowers, fragrance, and dependable clumps…

Philodendron Brasil

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Heartleaf Philodendron record names insoluble calcium oxalates, with oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not in horses) and difficulty swallowing.

Philodendron Brasil is a trailing heartleaf philodendron with a lime or golden stripe through each…

Pieris

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA's Pieris and Lily-of-the-Valley Bush records name grayanotoxins and warn that a few leaves can cause serious problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, low blood pressure and cardiovascular collapse. Horses appear on the Lily-of-the-Valley Bush record and on NC State's species record.

Pieris belongs in cool, acidic, partly shaded beds where red new growth and hanging spring flower…

Pink Princess Philodendron

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Philodendron spp. record names insoluble calcium oxalates, with oral irritation, mouth swelling, drooling, vomiting (not in horses) and difficulty swallowing. NC State tags Philodendron erubescens a problem for cats and dogs.

Pink Princess Philodendron is a dark-leaved climbing aroid grown for unstable pink variegation, so…

Plum Tree

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Stems, leaves and seeds (pits); ASPCA names cyanogenic glycosides, with brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock, worst while leaves are wilting.

Plum trees are rewarding backyard stone fruits when the type, pollination partner, sun, pruning…

Raven ZZ Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats

NC State identifies Raven ZZ as toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing or ingestion is an exposure concern; this listing does not establish a safe dose.

Raven ZZ grows lime-green leaves that darken as they mature. The color change is normal.

Red Maple

Toxic to horses

Ingestion, especially wilted leaves. ASPCA separately lists Acer rubrum as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Red Maple is one of the quickest ways to grow a broad native shade canopy, especially on…

Rhododendron

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names grayanotoxin and warns that a few leaves can cause serious problems: vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, coma, low blood pressure, cardiovascular collapse and death. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Rhododendron is a broadleaf flowering shrub grown for spring trusses and glossy leaves, but its…

Rubber Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingesting leaves or stems can cause oral and gastrointestinal irritation. NC State flags this species as a problem for dogs, cats and horses. Sap can irritate human skin. No safe dose is established here.

Rubber plant is Ficus elastica, a woody houseplant grown for large, glossy leaves.

Satin Pothos

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA names insoluble calcium oxalates, with oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not in horses) and difficulty swallowing.

Satin Pothos is a tropical Scindapsus vine with matte green leaves marked by irregular silver…

Schefflera

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Umbrella Tree record, listed as Brassaia actinophylla (a former name NC State records for this species), names terpenoids, saponins and insoluble oxalates in dogs and cats, with mild vomiting and diarrhea most common. NC State also tags it a problem for horses.

Schefflera is an indoor umbrella tree that grows fast when light, pruning, and pot size stay in…

Scindapsus Treubii

Toxic to cats, dogs

Leaves, roots, sap and stems; NC State tags it a problem for cats and dogs and names calcium oxalate crystals, with drooling, mouth and tongue swelling, vomiting and possible kidney damage or death in pets.

Scindapsus treubii is a slow wet-tropical climber with thick glossy leaves.

Shasta Daisy

Toxic to cats, dogs

Flowers, leaves, roots and stems; NC State tags it a problem for cats and dogs and lists hypersalivation, mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhea and skin irritation, with sesquiterpene lactones and pyrethrins as the toxic principle.

Shasta daisy is a clump-forming perennial grown for clean white petals, yellow centers, and…

Skip Laurel

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Eating leaves, stems, or seeds, including wilting clippings. ASPCA covers Prunus species as a group, and NC State lists cherry laurel leaves, seeds, and stems as highly poisonous.

Skip Laurel works when you need a year-round screen in a tight strip, but it only stays useful when…

Snake Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Snake Plant record (Sansevieria trifasciata, a former name NC State records for Dracaena trifasciata) names saponins, with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats. NC State also tags it a problem for horses.

Snake Plant grows as a stemless clump of water-storing, sword-shaped leaves.

String of Bananas

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

NC State lists ingestion toxicity to humans, pets and livestock and explicitly identifies cats, dogs and horses. Sap can irritate skin. No dose or outcome is predicted for an individual exposure.

String of Bananas has curved, water-storing leaves on flexible trailing stems.

String of Pearls

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; leaves and sap also pose human ingestion and skin-contact concerns. No safe dose is established here.

String of Pearls keeps water in its round leaves, but its small root system still needs a mix that…

Ti Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material; ASPCA's Ti-Plant record (Cordyline terminalis, a former name NC State records for Cordyline fruticosa) names saponins, with vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation and dilated pupils in cats. NC State also tags it a problem for horses.

Ti Plant grows broad red, pink, purple, or green leaves in crowns at the tops of upright canes.

Tomato

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of leaves and stems; NC State flags cats, dogs and horses, with vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, dilated pupils and severe stomach upset, rated medium severity.

The choice between a determinate and an indeterminate Tomato decides your support, your pruning…

Tradescantia Nanouk

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Sap and plant material; ASPCA lists Tradescantia fluminensis, which NC State gives as the current name for Tradescantia albiflora, as toxic, with dermatitis. ASPCA's separate Giant White Inch Plant record lists albiflora as non-toxic, so the records conflict and the toxic listing is used.

Tradescantia Nanouk is the candy-colored trailing plant that grows absurdly fast — thick, succulent…

Tulip

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Plant material, most concentrated in the bulb; ASPCA names tulipalin A and B, with vomiting, depression, diarrhea and hypersalivation.

Tulips are cool-season spring bulbs grown for upright flowers, clean foliage, and bold early color…

Wandering Jew

Toxic to dogs, cats

NC State species record flags dogs and cats, mouth/stomach irritation if ingested, and contact dermatitis from leaves/sap. No horse classification or exposure-dose threshold is established here.

Tradescantia zebrina, also sold as inch plant or wandering dude, makes trailing stems with…

Wisteria

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA lists Wisteria spp. for dogs, cats and horses and names lectin and wisterin glycoside, with vomiting (sometimes with blood), diarrhea and depression. NC State names the seeds as the poisonous part.

Fight tangled, flowerless vines by giving Wisteria sinensis the structure, light, and pruning it…

Yarrow

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion; ASPCA names glycoalkaloids (achillein), monoterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones, with vomiting, diarrhea, colic, drooling, anorexia, dermatitis and depression. NC State also flags cats, dogs and horses.

Gardeners often baby perennials, but Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) thrives on a little neglect.

Yew

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Ingestion of needles, bark, seeds or clippings; ASPCA names taxines A and B, with tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures in dogs and sudden death from heart failure. NC State rates it high severity and flags cats, dogs and horses.

Yew is a long-lived evergreen structure shrub for shade, hedges, and formal planting, but it…

Yucca Cane

Toxic to dogs, cats, horses

Leaves and roots; ASPCA's Yucca spp. record names saponins, with vomiting in dogs and cats and liver disease and dermatitis in horses. NC State records Yucca elephantipes as a former name of Yucca gigantea.

Yucca Cane is a dry-room indoor tree with thick canes, sword-like leaves, and a strong need for…

ZZ Plant

Toxic to dogs, cats

NC State lists this species as toxic to dogs and cats. Chewing or ingestion is an exposure concern; no safe dose or severity prediction for an individual animal is established here.

ZZ Plant stores water in fleshy underground rhizomes and tolerates drying between waterings.