Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List

By
Alicia McWatters, Ph.D., C.N.C.

The following is a list of some potentially toxic plants. Be sure you correctly identified all plants in your bird's environment. Keep those plants that are known to be toxic out of the reach of your bird.

Acokanthera - Acokanthera spp. (all parts toxic, except ripe fruit)

Amaryllis - Amaryllis spp.

Angel's Trumpet - Datura spp., (leaves, seeds, flowers)

Apricot - Prunus armeniaca, (pits, leaves, and bark)

Apple - Malus spp., (seeds, leaves, bark)

Avocado - Persea americana, (pit, leaves, unripe fruit, and stems)

Azalea - Rhododendron canadensis

Balsam Pear, Bitter Melon - Momordica charantia

Baneberry - Actaea rubra, A. pachypoda

Belladonna - Atropa belladonna

Bird of Paradise - Poinciana and related spp., (seed pods and flowers)

Bittersweet - Celastrus spp.

Black Locust - Robinia pseudo-acacia

Boxwood - Buxus spp.

Bracken Fern - Pteridium aquilinum

Buckthorn - Karwinskia humboldtiana and related spp.

Burdock - Arctium spp.

Buttercup - Ranunculus spp.

Caladium - Caladium spp.

Calla Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica

Catclaw Acacia - Acacia greggii, (twigs and leaves)

Caster Bean - Ricinus communis

Cherry - Prunus spp., (pits, leaves, and bark)

Chinaberry - Melia azadarach

Clematis - Clematis montana and related spp.

Coral Plant - Jatropha mutifida

Crocus (autumn) - Cholchicum autumnale

Cycad, or Sago Cycas - Cycas revoluta

Daffodil - Narcissus tazetta

Daphne - Daphne mezerum

Death Camas - Zigadenus venenosus and other related species

Delphinium - Delphinium spp.

Devil's Ivy - Epipremnum aureum

Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) - Dieffenbachia spp.

Egg Plant - Solanum melongena, (unripe/overipe fruit, leaves)

Elderberry - Sambucus mexicana, (roots, leaves, stems, bark)

Elephant's Ears, or Taro - Colocasia spp.

Euonymus - Euonymus spp. (fruit, bark, leaves)

European Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium

Figs - Ficus spp (sap)

Four o'clock – Mirabilis jalapa

Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea

Heliotrope - Heliotropium spp., (leaves)

Henbane - Hyoscyamus niger

Holly - Ilex aquifolium and related spp., (leaves, berries)

Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum and related spp.

Horse Nettle - Solanum carolinense

Hyacinth - Hyacinthus orientalis

Hydrangea - Hydrangea spp.

Iris - Iris spp.

Ivy (Boston, English, and some others) - Hedera spp.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit - Arisaema spp.

Jerusalem Cherry - Solanum pseudocapsicum and related spp.

Jessamine, Yellow - Gelsemium sempervirens, (leaves, stems)

Jimsonweed - Datura spp., (leaves, seeds, flowers)

Jonquil - Narcissus jonquilla

Juniper - Juniperus spp.

Lantana - Lantana camara

Larkspur - Delphinium spp.

Laurel - Kalmia spp.

Lily-of-the-Valley - Convalleria majalis

Lobelia - Lobelia spp.

Locoweed - Astragalus spp. and Oxytropis spp.

Lupine - Lupinus spp.

Marijuana -Cannabis sativa

Milkweed -Asclepias spp.

Mistletoe - Phoradendron villosum

Moonseed - Menispermum canadense

Monkshood - Aconitum spp.

Morning Glory - lpomoea violacea, (seeds)

Mushrooms - Amanita spp. and many others

Narcissus - Narcissus spp.

Oak - Quercus spp.

Oleander - Nerium oleander

Peach - Prunus persica, (leaves, pit, bark)

Pear - Pyrus spp., (leaves, seeds, bark)

Peony - Paeonia officinalis

Periwinkle - Vinca minor, Vinca rosea

Peyote - Lophophora williamsii

Philodendron - Philodendron spp. and Monstera spp.

Pigweed - Amaranthus spp.

Plum - Prunus spp., (leaves, pit, bark)

Poison Hemlock - Conium maculatum

Poison Ivy - Toxicodendron radicans, includes T. rydbergii

Poison Oak - Toxicodendron quercifolium and T. diversilobum

Poison Sumac - Rhux vernix

Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima

Poppy - Papaver somniferum and related spp.

Pokeweed - Phytolacca americana

Potato - Solanum tuberosum, (sprouts, leaves, berries, green tubers)

Pothos - Eprimemnun aureum

Primrose - Primula spp.

Privet - Ligustrum vulgare

Ragwort – Senecio jacobea and related spp.

Red Maple - Acer rubrum

Rhododendron - Rhododendron spp.

Rhubarb - Rheum rhabarbarum, (leaves)

Rosary Pea – Abrus precatorius

Sage - Salvia officinalis

Shamrock Plant - Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Oxalis acetosella

Skunk Cabbage – Symplocarpus foetidus

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Sorrel - Rumex spp., Oxalis spp.

Spurges - Euphorbia spp.

Star-of Bethlehem - Ornithogalum umbellatum

Sweet Pea - Lathyrus odoratus

Tobacco - Nicotiania spp.

Tomato - Lycopersicon esculentum, (stems and leaves)

Tulip - Tulipa spp.

Virginia Creeper - Panthenocissus quinquefolia

Vetches - Vicia spp.

Water Hemlock - Cicuta spp.

Waxberry - Symphoricarpos albus

Wisteria - Wisteria spp.

Yew - Taxus spp.

The following is a list of some non-toxic plants. Remember that any plant can cause harm if your bird consumes a large enough amount.

Abelia - Abelia spp.

Acacia (some species) - Acacia spp.

African Daisy - Arctotis stoechadifolia

African Violet - Saintpaulma spp.

Aluminum Plant - Pilea cadierei

Aloe - Aloe spp., (flesh only)

Aralia - Aralia spp.

Arbutus - Arbutus spp.

Areca, Butterfly Cane - Areca lutescens

Ash - Fraxinus spp.

Asparagus Fern - Asparagus densiflorus

Aspen - Populus spp.

Aspidistra - Aspidistra spp.

Baby's Tears - Helxine soleirolii

Baby's Breath – Gypsophila paniculata

Bachelor Buttons - Centaurea cyanus

Barberry - Berberis spp.

Beech- Fagus, Nothofagus

Begonia - Begonia spp.

Birch - Betula spp.

Bird's Nest Fern - Asplenium nidus

Blood Leaf Plant - Iresine herbstii and related spp.

Boston Fern - Nephrolepsis bostoniensis

Bougainvillea - Bougainvillea spp.

Brake, Ribbon, Dish - Pteris cretica

Bromeliads - Anans comosus

California Holly - Heteromeles arbutifolia

Calamint - Calamintha spp.

Calendula (also known as Pot Marigold) - Calendula officinalis

Camellia - Camellia spp.

Chamomile - Chamaemelum nobile

Chickweed - Cerastium vulgatum, Stellaria media

Chicory - Cichorium intybus

Cissus Kangaroo Vines - Cissus spp.

Claw Cactus - Schlumbergera truncata

Coffee Tree - Coffea arabica (coffee is toxic)

Coleus - Coleus blumei

Comfrey - Symphytum officinalis

Corn Plant - Dracaena fragrans

Cottonwood - Populus spp.

Crabapple - Malus spp., (fruit only)

Creeping Jenny - Lysimachia spp.

Croton (house variety) - Codiaeum variegatum

Dahlia - Dahlia spp.

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinalis

Date - Phoenix dactylifera

Daylily - Hemero callis spp.

Dill - Anethum graveolen

Dogwood - Cornus spp.

Donkey Tail - Sedum morganianum

Dracaena - Dracaena spp.

Dragon Tree - Dracaena draco

Easter cactus - Rhipsalidopsis spp.

Elderberry - Sambucus spp. (cooked ripe fruit only)

Elm - Ulmus spp.

European Fan - Chamaerops humilis

Fir - Abies spp.

Gold Dust Dracaena - Dracaena godseffiana

Echeveria - Echeveria spp.

Elephant Foot Tree - Beaucarnea recurvata

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus species

Eugenia - Eugenia spp.

Gardenia - Gardenia jasminoides

Garlic - Allium sativum

Gloxinia - Sinningia speciosa

Grape Ivy - Cissus rhombifolia

Grape Vine - Vitis spp.

Hens and Chicks - Echeveria and Sempervivum species

Hibiscus - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and related species

Honeysuckle - Lonicera spp.

Hoya - Hoya spp.

Impatiens - Impatiens spp.

Indian Hawthorne - Rhaphiolepsis spp.

Jade Plant - Crassula ovata

Kalanchoe - Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Larch - Larix spp.

Lemon balm - Melissa officinalis

Lilac - Syringa vulgaris and related species

Lily (Easter, or Tiger) - Lilium spp.

Magnolia - Magnolia spp.

Marigold - Tagetes spp.

Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum spp.

Manzanita - Arctostapylos manzanita

Mayapple – Podophyllum peltatum, (fruit only)

Monkey Plant - Ruellia spp.

Moses-in-the-Cradle - Rhoeo spathacea

Mother-In-Law' s-Tongue - Sansevieria trifasciata

Nandina - Nandina domestica

Nasturtium - Tropaeolum majus

Natal Plum - Carissa macrocarpa

Nerve Plant - Fittonia verschaffeltii

Norfolk Island Pine - Araucaria excelsa

Parsley - Petroselinum spp.

Passionflower - Passiflora caerulea

Peppermint - Mentha x piperita

Peperomia - Peperomia spp.

Petunia - Petunia spp.

Pony Tail Palm - Beaucarnea recurvata

Popular - Populus spp.

Prayer Plant - Maranta leuconeura

Purple Passion, Purple Velvet - Gynura aurantiaca

Pyracantha - Pyracantha spp.

Raphiolepsis - Raphiolepis spp.

Rose - Rosa spp.

Rubber Plant - Ficus elastica

Russian Olive - Elaeagnus augustifolia

Schefflera - Schefflera actinophylla

Sensitive Plant - Mimosa pudica

Spearmint - Mentha spicata

Spider Plant - Chlorophytum comosum

Spruce - Picea spp.

Squirrel's Foot Fern - Davallia trichomanoides

Staghorn, Elk's Horn - Platycerium bifurcatum

Star Jasmine – Trachelospermum jasminoides

String of Beads - Senecio rowleyanus

Swedish Ivy - Plectranthus australis

Sword Fern - Nephrolepis exaltata

Thistle - Cirsium spp.

Ti Plant - Cordyline terminalis

Violet - Viola spp.

Wandering Jew – Tradescantia fluminensis

Willow - Salix spp.

Yucca - Yucca spp.

Zebra Plant - Aphelandra squarrosa