Toxic Plants for Dogs: Houseplants and Garden Plants to Keep Away

Dogs explore with their mouths, and puppies will chew, dig up and swallow almost anything in a pot or a flower bed. Because dogs spend time in the garden as well as the house, outdoor plants, fruit trees and shrubs matter as much as houseplants.

Below are the plants in PlantoScan's catalogue that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists as toxic to dogs, split into houseplants and garden plants, most common first. Each one links to its full care guide. Use it to check a plant before you plant or buy it, and to decide what to fence off or move out of reach.

Sago palm needs special care around dogs

The ASPCA lists sago palm (Cycas revoluta) as toxic to dogs. All parts of the plant are poisonous and the seeds contain the most toxin; the ASPCA lists liver damage among the possible effects. It is a common houseplant and, in warm climates, a garden plant. If your dog may have chewed any part of one, call your vet or animal poison control straight away.

In our catalogue: Sago Palm, Coontie.

Houseplants toxic to dogs

Indoor plants the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs, most common first. Many of these (pothos, philodendron, monstera and other aroids) contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth; others contain saponins or other compounds. The plant's care guide has the details we hold for it.

Garden plants, trees and cut flowers toxic to dogs

Outdoor plants, fruit trees, herbs and cut flowers the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs. Remember bouquets and fallen leaves, fruit and seeds as well as the plants in your beds.

What to do if your dog ate a plant

  1. Gently remove any plant pieces from your dog's mouth and move the plant away.
  2. Don't try to make your dog vomit or give home remedies unless a vet tells you to.
  3. Find out what the plant is: check the label, or snap a photo with the free plant scanner.
  4. Call your vet or an animal poison control line right away, even if your dogseems fine, and have the plant's name ready.
  5. If you go to the vet, take the plant, its label or a photo with you.

General guidance only, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

Safer houseplants for homes with dogs

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs. For the full list, see plants safe for dogs.

How we built this list

Each verdict comes from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's toxic and non-toxic plant lists, matched to PlantoScan's curated catalogue by scientific name. 337 plants in the catalogue have a direct ASPCA entry; 210 of them are listed as toxic to dogs. Plants without an ASPCA entry are left out rather than guessed, so this is not a complete list of every plant that can harm a dog. Where our own plant data disagrees with the ASPCA, we show the ASPCA verdict.

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Scan any plant with PlantoScan to see what it is and whether it's listed as toxic to pets, then save it to My Plants with water and fertilizer reminders. Free on iPhone and Android.

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Frequently asked questions

Which houseplants are toxic to dogs?
Common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs include chrysanthemum, joshua tree, calla lily, bird of paradise, gardenia, hyacinth, peace lily, poinsettia. Keep them out of reach or choose a plant listed as non-toxic instead.
What should I do if my dog ate a toxic plant?
Remove any plant pieces from your dog's mouth, don't try to make it vomit unless a vet tells you to, and call your vet or an animal poison control line straight away, even if your dog seems fine. Have the plant's name ready, or bring the plant or a photo. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
Are fruit trees toxic to dogs?
Several are. The ASPCA lists cherry blossom tree, cherry tree, peach tree, black cherry, orange tree as toxic to dogs; the stems, leaves and seeds are the main concern. Pick up fallen fruit and pits where your dog plays.
Is a plant that's non-toxic to dogs completely safe?
Non-toxic means the ASPCA knows of no poisonous compound in it, not that it's food. Eating a lot of any plant can upset a dog's stomach, and fertilizers, pesticides and leaf shine on a plant can be harmful too.
Where does this toxicity information come from?
From the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's lists of toxic and non-toxic plants, matched to PlantoScan's plant catalogue by scientific name. The list only includes plants with a direct ASPCA entry, so it is not a complete list of every toxic plant. It is a general caution, not veterinary advice.
How can I find out which plant my dog chewed?
Check the plant label if it still has one, or take a photo and identify it with PlantoScan's free web scanner or the app, which shows pet toxicity in each plant's care guide. Then tell your vet the plant's scientific name.

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