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Protect Your Bird: Identify Toxic & Safe Plants for Your Bird's Home

Published on December 31st, 2000

Updated on October 15th, 2025

Written by Petco's Animal Care, Education and Compliance Team

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Protect Your Bird: Identify Toxic & Safe Plants for Your Bird's Home

There are a variety of plants which are poisonous to birds, but there are many safe plants, too. So if you are a dedicated house plant enthusiast, you can have your plants and birds, too.

How toxic a plant is for birds depends upon:

The specific plant in question

The amount ingested relative to the size of the bird

The species of the bird

For example, a cockatoo that nibbles a few bites of philodendron may experience a mild degree of toxicity, whereas, the same amount or less may be lethal for a canary.

Although there are significant differences among species of birds as to their reaction and sensitivity to various plants, most sources agree that those plants listed in Table 1 are toxic to any bird. This list may appear long, but is by no means all-inclusive. There are many more toxic plants than safe plants, so stick to the "safe" list in Table 2 for plants you will keep in the bird's environment.

The most commonly observed sign of poisonous plant ingestion in birds is some form of gastric or intestinal upset, e.g., vomiting and/or diarrhea. The treatment for plant poisonings is generally symptomatic.

If you suspect that your bird has ingested a toxic plant, call your veterinarian or the poison control center immediately. It may be a good idea to print this article and keep it in a convenient place so you do not have to go searching and waste time in a stressful situation.

Although we are talking about plants here, it is worth mentioning that birds are acutely sensitive to fumes from solvents and Teflon. Do not use any Teflon coated cooking utensils, ironing board covers, or other items anywhere near a bird.

Plants That Are Toxic to Birds

Toxic Plant

Toxic part(s)

Specific Toxin(s)

Symptoms

Avocado (Persea americana)

Pit, leaves, unripe fruit, stems

Persin related to cardiac toxicity

Weakness/, inability to perch, labored breathing, feather fluffing, collapse or sudden death

Black locust (Robina pseudoacacia)

Bark, leaves, seeds

Robitin, robin

Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, depression, collapse

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopiea)

All parts

Needle shaped crystals known as Raphides which are made of calcium oxalates

Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting

Castor bean (Ricinus communis)

All parts

Ricin I & II, glycosidase

Vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody) muscle tremors, ataxia etc Note: similar symptoms may be seen with ingested prayer beans, rosary peas or Seminole beads used in beadwork and rattles)

Christmas cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)

All parts including tubers and unripened fruit

Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids, saponins

Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Coffee beans, (Sesbania drumundii), Tea, Chocolate Beans (coffee)

Leaves (tea), all chocolates especially dark

Caffeine, theobromine, theophylline

Nervous system stimulation, increased rate of breathing and heart rate, seizures, diarrhea

Diffenbachia (Diffenbachia spp.)

All parts

Oxalates

Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting

Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Stem, leaves, sprouts (ripe fruits are OK)

Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids

Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Elephant's ear (Colocasia or Alocasia spp.)

All parts

Oxalates

Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting

Ergot (Claviceps purpurea)

All parts

Ergopeptide alkaloids

Poor blood supply to extremities, hyperexcitability, seizures

Foxglove (Digitalis pupurea)

Entire plant, including water from pot or vase

Glycosides, digitalis

Vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, incoordination, irregular heart rate, collapse

Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)

All parts, including tubers, sprouts, and unripe berries

Solanine, atropine

Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Jimsonweed (Datura spp.)

All parts, especially seeds and leaves

Atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine

Irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)

All parts

Cardiac glycosides: convallatoxin

Vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, incoordination, irregular heart rate, collapse

Locoweed (Astragalus emoryanus)

Leaves

Swainsonine, alkaloids

Hyperexcitability, incoordination, vomiting, drowsiness

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

All parts and latex (milky juice)

Cardenoloids (cardiac glycosides)

Oral and/or facial blisters, irregular heart rate, incoordination, collapse

Mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum)

All parts, especially holly berries

Viscumin, viscotoxin

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, irregular heart rate, collapse

Nightshade (Solanum spp.)

All parts

Belladonna, atropine-like alkaloids

Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Oak (Quercus spp.)

All parts

Tannins

Loss of appetite, diarrhea, increased thirst

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

All parts

Glycosides: oleadrum, neroside

Vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, incoordination, irregular heart rate, collapse

Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)

All parts, including roots

Oxalates

Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcheriama)

Leaves, stem, white sap

Phorbol esters

Vomiting, diarrhea, facial or eye irritation

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

Roots, leaves, berries

Saponin

Vomiting, tremors, collapse

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Stem, leaves, sprouts, green skins

Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids

Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Rhododendron (Rhodedendron simsii), Rhododendron species (Azalea)

All parts

Andromedotoxin, grayanotoxin

Vomiting, weakness, collapse, seizure, stupor, coma

Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.)

All parts

Nicotine

Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperexcitability, seizures, muscle twitching, coughing, eye irritation

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Stem, leaves, sprouts (ripe fruits are OK)

Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids

Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolio)

Berries, leaves

Oxalic acid

Vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), drowsiness, stupor, renal failure

Yew (Taxus media)

Wood, bark, seeds, leaves

Alkaloids (taxines)

Muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, collapse, sudden death

Blue-green algae (Microcystis aeruginosa)

All parts

Anatoxin A, mycrocystin

Inability to fly, abnormal posture, frequent defecation, respiratory arrest

Plants That Are Safe for Birds

Indoor/House Plants

Outdoor Plants

African violet

American bittersweet

Aloe

Autumn olive

Areca palm

Bamboo

Australian laurel

Barberry

Bamboo palm

Bayberry

Begonias

American or European Beech

Bird's nest fern

Bladdernut

Boston fern

Blueberry

Bottle brush fern

Comfrey

Canary Island palm

Coralberry

Coffee tree

Crabapple

Corn plant

Dogwood

Creeping fig

Common, European or Red Elderberry

Danish ivy

Balsam, Douglas, Subalpine or White Fir

Devil's ivy

Grape vine

Dragon tree

Huckleberry

European fan palm

Marigold

Fiddle leaf fig

Nasturtium

Fig tree

Ponderosa, Spruce, Virginia, or White Pine

Flame nettle

Pyracantha

Hawaiian scheffler

Raspberry

Indian laurel

Rose

Jade plant

Snowberry

Kangaroo vine

Black, Norway, Red, or White Spruce

Lace fern

Viburnum

Lady palm

Wax plant

Maidenhair fern

White poplar

Ming fern

Willow

Mother fern

Mother-in-law's tongue

Norfolk pine

Paradise palm

Parlor palm

Pepperomia

Prayer plant

Purple passion

Rubber tree

Spider plant

Umbrella tree

Wandering Jew

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Protect Your Bird: Identify Toxic & Safe Plants for Your Bird's Home

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