Dogs are notorious for getting their snouts into things they shouldn’t. Besides their dog food, they’ll happily snuffle and scarf up anything they come across, from litter on the sidewalk to the newly planted flower bulbs in your garden. And while some of the stuff your pooch comes across is just gross, other items can be downright dangerous. In fact, there are tons of poisonous plants for dogs that can harm your pet.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reported that in 2022, nearly 9 percent of all calls were related to pets ingesting plants toxic to them, making it fifth on their list of the top 10 pet toxins.
We spoke with a director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and two other veterinarians to identify the most common poisonous plants for dogs.
Keep Dogs Away From These Toxic Plants
1 Sago Palm
With its stiff fronds, the sago palm looks like a tiny palm tree and can live indoor or outdoor. It's toxic to all pets, says Laura Stern, DVM, DABVT, director of client programs for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
Symptoms include:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- seizures
- liver failure
- potentially death
And while the leaves and bark will harm your pup, “the seeds or ‘nuts’ contain the largest amount of toxins,” Dr. Stern says.
2 Tulips
Tulips are spring-blooming flowers that many people love to have in their home—indoors and outdoors. Dog parents should skip these brightly-colored flowers, though.
If your dog chews on the lance-shaped leaves, he could get an upset stomach. However, the real danger lies when your dog digs up and eats the newly-planted bulbs, which have the most toxins.
According to Dr. Stern, tulip bulbs can cause:
- stomach upset
- depression
- loss of appetite
3 Lily of the Valley
There are a ton of reasons why lilies of the valley are such popular garden plants: They are sweet-smelling, they have adorable little white bell-shaped flowers and they can thrive in shady places. But one thing the flowering plant’s beauty masks is how poisonous it is to dogs.
“Even a small exposure to any part of the plant can cause heart problems for dogs—changes in heart rate and rhythm,” Dr. Stern warns.
Eating a few leaves or bulbs can also lead to the following symptoms:
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- low blood pressure
- disorientation
- seizures
- coma
- arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
4 Oleander
Oleander is a common landscaping plant, especially on the West Coast. This bushy shrub can grow as high as 12 feet, and it’s prized for its cluster of flowers in shades of yellow, white, pink and red.
Every inch of this plant is poisonous to dogs—from the flower petals to the pointy, long leaves.
“Like lily of the valley, oleander also contains cardiac glycosides,” Dr. Stern explains, adding that symptoms can include:
- changes in heart rate and heart rhythm
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- drooling and excess salivation
- possible death
5 Philodendrons
Philodendrons have heart-shaped leaves and long vines, and are a very popular houseplant. Beware, though: These plants contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate your dog’s mouth and lips.
If he’s swallowed some leaves, other symptoms include:
- pawing the mouth
- drooling
- retching
6 Rhododendron (Azaleas)
You see these flowering shrubs in many back and front yards across the country.
All parts of these flowering beauties contain grayantoxin, and the reaction your pup gets depends on how much they’ve eaten.
“The most common sign with the ingestion of azaleas is stomach upset,” Dr. Stern says.
It’s very rare for dogs to eat a lot of azaleas, but when they do, they can get:
- very weak
- tremors
- low blood pressure
- irregular heart rate and rhythm
7 Dieffenbachia (Dumb cane)
These mostly indoor plants have lush green leaves with white spots or stripes, and if your dog nibbles on the leaves, they’re likely to feel as if their mouth, tongue and lips are burning, thanks to the calcium oxalate crystals (the same ones found in philodendrons).
According to Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, a veterinarian at Animal Medical Center in New York City, other symptoms include:
- drooling
- vomit
- hard time breathing
8 Japanese Yews (Buddhist pine, Southern yew)
These plants make excellent hedges, since they are like small evergreen trees or shrubs with needle-like leaves and small red berries. You can find them throughout the United States.
While the berries aren’t toxic to dogs, the leaves, seeds and bark are.
According to Dr. Stern, they can cause:
- vomiting
- lethargy
- wobbly gait
- heart and blood pressure changes, "which can be life threatening"
Other early warning signs your dog may display include seizures and muscle tremors.
9 Cyclamen
With intensely colored blooms (think every shade of pink) that last a long time, cyclamen is a popular houseplant, especially in the winter.
If your pup eats any part of the plant, they’re likely to:
- drool
- vomit
- have diarrhea
If they dig up the plant and gobble up the roots (or tubers as they’re known), it can affect their heart rate and rhythms, and may even cause death, Dr. Hohenaus says.
10 Autumn Crocus
When these plants bloom in the fall, their delicate flowers rise out of the ground without leaves—one reason why they’re also known as naked ladies. The leaves and bulbs appear in the spring, long after the flowers have died.
If your dog eats even a small bit of the flowers, leaves or bulbs, they may exhibit the following behaviors:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
The toxins in the Autumn Crocus, known as colchicine, can have long-lasting effects too, such as suppressing bone marrow and causing liver failure, Dr. Stern says.
Complete List of Extremely Poisonous Plants for Dogs
Any plant can upset your dog’s stomach, but the toxic ones can produce severe symptoms, like intense vomiting or organ damage, depending on the plant and how much your pup ingests.
Here are all the plants known to produce the more serious side effects (you can also find a list with photos on the ASPCA’s website):
- Adam-and-Eve (also known as Arum, Lord-and-Ladies, Wake Robin, Starch Root, Bobbins, Cuckoo Plant)
- African Wonder Tree
- Aloe
- Amaryllis (also known as Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady, Barbados lily)
- American Mistletoe
- Ambrosia Mexicana (also known as Jerusalem Oak, Feather Geranium)
- American Mandrake (also known as Mayapple, Indian Apple Root, Umbrella Leaf, Wild Lemon, Hog Apple, Duck's Foot, and Raccoonberry)
- American Yew (also known as Canada Yew, Canadian Yew)
- Apple (including crabapples; stem, leaves and seeds contain cyanide, but the fruit is okay for dogs)
- Apricot (stems, leaves, and pit contain cyanide)
- Arrow-Head Vine (also known as Nephthytis, Green Gold Naphthysis, African Evergreen, Trileaf Wonder)
- Australian Ivy Palm (also known as Schefflera, Umbrella Tree, Octopus Tree, Starleaf)
- Autumn Crocus (also known as Naked Ladies)
- Azalea
- Baby Doll Ti Plant (also known as Ti-Plant, Good-Luck Plant, Hawaiian TI Plant)
- Barbados Pride (also known as Peacock Flower, Dwarf Poinciana)
- Barbados Pride 2 (also known as Bird of Paradise, Poinciana, Brazilwood)
- Begonia
- Bergamot Orange
- Bird of Paradise Flower (also known as Crane Flower, Bird's Tongue Flower)
- Bishop’s Weed (also known as False Queen Anne’s Lace, Greater Ammi)
- Bitter Root (also known as Dogbane Hemp, Indian Hemp)
- Bittersweet (also known as American Bittersweet, Waxwork, Shrubby Bittersweet, False Bittersweet, Climbing Bittersweet)
- Black Calla (also known as Solomon’s Lily, Wild Calla, Wild Arum)
- Black Laurel (also known as Dog Hobble, Dog Laurel, Fetter Bush, Sierra Laurel)
- Black Walnut
- Bog Laurel (also known as Pale Laurel)
- Borage (also known as Starflower)
- Boxwood
- Branching Ivy (also known as English Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy, California Ivy)
- Brunfelsia (also known as Lady-of-the-Night, Kiss-Me-Quick, Franciscan Rain Tree)
- Buckwheat
- Burning Bush (also known as Spindle Tree)
- Buttercup (also known as Figwort)
- Butterfly Iris
- Calamondin Orange
- Calla Lily (also known as Trumpet Lily, Arum Lily, Pig Lily, White Arum, Florist's Calla, Garden Calla)
- Caraway
- Cardboard Palm (also known as Cardboard Cycad)
- Castor Bean Plant
- Carnation
- Chamomile
- Chandelier Plant (also known as Devils Backbone)
- Cherry (stem, leaves, and pit)
- Chinaberry Tree (also known as Bead tree, China Ball Tree, Paradise Tree, Persian Lilac, White Cedar, Japanese Bead Tree, Texas Umbrella Tree, Pride-of-India)
- Chinese Evergreen
- Chinese Jade (also known as Silver Jade Plant, Silver Dollar)
- Chives
- Chrysanthemum (also known as Mums)
- Clematis (also known as Virgin’s Bower)
- Clivia Lily
- Coffee Tree
- Coleus (also known as Bread-and-Butter Plant, Spanish Thyme, East Indian Thyme)
- Corn Plant (also known as Dragon Tree)
- Cow Parsnip (also known as Giant Hogweed)
- Cowbane
- Cyclamen
- Daffodil (especially the bulbs)
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Desert Rose (also known as Desert Azalea, Mock Azalea)
- Deadly Nightshade (also known as Climbing Nightshade, Poisonous Nightshade, Woody Nightshade, and Blue Nightshade)
- Dieffenbachia (also known as Dumb Cane)
- Dog Daisy
- Eastern Star
- Elephant Ears (also known as Taro, Malanga, and Caladium)
- Elephant-Ear Begonia
- Emerald Fern (also known as Emerald Feather, Asparagus Fern)
- Epazote (also known as Mexican Tea)
- Eucalyptus
- Fetterbush (also known as Maleberry, Staggerberry)
- Fleabane (also known as Horseweed, Showy Daisy)
- Florida Beauty (also known as Gold Dust Dracaena, Spotted Dracaena)
- Foxglove
- Garlic
- Gardenia (also known as Cape Jasmine)
- Geranium
- Giant Dracaena (also known as Palm Lily, Grass Palm)
- Gladiola
- Glory lily (also known as Gloriosa Lily, Climbing Lily, Superb Lily)
- Good Luck Plant (also known as Golden Birds Nest, Snake Plant)
- Grapefruit (skin and plant parts; fruit isn’t toxic)
- Heavenly Bamboo (also known as Sacred Bamboo)
- Hellebore (also known as Christmas Rose, Easter Rose)
- Holly (also known as American Holly, English Holly, European Holly, Oregon Holly, Inkberry, Winterberry)
- Hops
- Horse Chestnut (also known as Buckeye)
- Hosta
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Indian Rubber Plant (also known as Fig, Weeping Fig)
- Iris (also known as Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag)
- Iron Cross Begonia
- Jack-in-the-Pulpit
- Jade Plant (also known as Baby Jade, Dwarf Rubber Plant, Chinese Rubber Plant, Japanese Rubber Plant)
- Japanese Yew (also known as Buddhist pine or Southern yew)
- Jerusalem Cherry (also known as Winter Cherry)
- Jonquil
- Lambkill (also known as Sheep Laurel)
- Larkspur
- Laurel (also known as Mountain Laurel, Bay Laurel)
- Lavender
- Leek
- Lemon (skin and plant parts; fruit is non-toxic)
- Lemon Grass
- Lemon Verbena
- Lily of the Valley
- Lily-of-the-Valley Bush (also known as Andromeda Japonica)
- Lime (skin and plant parts; fruit is edible)
- Lobelia (also known as Cardinal Flower, Indian Pink)
- Locust
- Lovage
- Macademia Nut
- Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Mapleleaf Begonia
- Marijuana (also known as Indian Hemp, Hashish)
- Marjoram
- Mayweed
- Metallic Leaf Begonia
- Milkweed
- Mint
- Mole Bean Plant
- Morning Glory
- Narcissus (also known as Paper White)
- Nightshade (also known as Black Nightshade)
- Oleander
- Onions
- Orange (skin and plant parts; fruit isn’t toxic)
- Oregano
- Painter’s Pallet (also known as Flamingo Lily, Flamingo Flower, Pigtail Plant, and Oilcloth Flower)
- Parsley
- Peace Begonia
- Peach (stem, leaves and pit)
- Peace Lily
- Pencil Cactus (also known as Sticks of Fire)
- Peony
- Periwinkle (also known as Running Myrtle)
- Philodendron
- Plum (stem, leaves and pit)
- Poinsettia
- Poison Hemlock (also known as Deadly Hemlock, Winter Fern, California Fern, Nebraska Fern)
- Pothos (also known as Golden Pothos, Taro Vine, Devil’s ivy)
- Prayer Bean (also known as Rosary Bean, Buddhist Rosary Bean, Indian Bean, Indian Licorice)
- Prickly Ash (also known as Angelica Tree, Prickly Elder, Hercules’ Club, Devil’s Walking Stick)
- Primrose
- Privet (also known as Wax-Leaf)
- Purslane (also known as Moss Rose, Rock Moss)
- Ragwort (also known as Golden Ragwort)
- Ranger’s Button (also known as Swamp White Heads)
- Red-Marginated Dracaena
- Red Sage (also known as Shrub Verbena, Lantana, Yellow Sage)
- Rex Begonia
- Rhubarb
- Sago palm
- Shamrock Plant
- Skunk Weed (also known as Skunk Cabbage, Swamp Cabbage, Polecat Weed)
- Sorrel
- Spring Parsley
- John’s Wort (also known as Klamath Weed)
- Striped Dracaena
- Sweet Pea (also known as Everlasting Pea)
- Sweet William (also known as Pinks)
- Tahitian Bridal Veil
- Tarragon
- Tobacco (also known as Tree Tobacco, Mustard Tree, Nicotiania)
- Tomato Plant
- Tulips
- Wandering Jew
- Watercress
- Wisteria
- Yarrow (also known as Milfoil)
- Yucca
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Toxic Plants
While some plants can just give your pup diarrhea, there are others that are extremely poisonous and can cause serious problems, like liver damage. On top of that, many of the more dangerous poisonous plants for dogs are also very common plants to have in your home, like sago palm plants.
If you think your pet has eaten a poisonous plant, head to the ER instead of trying to treat your pet at home, Dr. Hohenhaus says.
If you aren’t sure what your pet ate, call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). They’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They can tell you how toxic the plant is and if you need to seek veterinary care.
The Best Prevention? Pet-Proofing Your Home
The best thing to do as far as prevention goes is to not have these plants at all. But sometimes, that’s just not possible—say, you bought a house from someone who had a yen for azaleas. In that case, you can put a barrier up or use a plant stand to prevent your pooch from getting to these plants.
When adding greenery to your home, just be sure to get plants that are pet-safe, like spider plants, violets or orchids, suggests Dr. Hohenaus.
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