Toxic Plants

Plants listed as poisonous to humans and other animals should be considered potentially toxic to birds. Some avian species, however, reportedly have died from ingestion of a toxic plant, while others have experienced no untoward effects. The following should be considered potentially toxic to birds:

Amaryllis Amaryllidaceae

Avocado Persea americana

Azalea Rhododendron canadensis

Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia

Buckthorn Rhamnus spp.

Buttercup Ranunculus spp.

Caladium Caladium spp.

Calla lily Zantedeschia aethiopica

Castor bean Ricinus communis

Cherry Prunus spp.

Clematis Clematis spp.

Daffodil Narcissus spp.

Daphne Daphne spp.

Datura stramonium

(Angel's trumpet) Datura spp.

Delphinium Delphinium spp.

Dieffenbachia (Dumbcane) Dieffenbachia spp.

Elephant's ear Colocasia spp.

English ivy Hedera helix

Euphorbia cactus Euphorbia spp.

Fig (Weeping fig) Ficus benjamina

Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

Holly Ilex spp.

Horse chestnut Aesculus spp.

Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis

Hydrangea Hydrangea spp.

Iris Iris spp.

Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum

Jerusalem cherry Solanum pseudocapsicaum

Juniper Juniper virginiana

Larkspur Delphinium spp.

Lily-of-the valley Convallaria majalis

Lobelia Lobelia spp.

Marihuana Cannabis sativa

Mistletoe Phoradendron villosum

Monkshood Aconitum spp.

Narcissus Narcissus spp.

Nightshade Solanum spp.

Oleander Nerium oleander

Philodendron Philodendron spp.

Poinsettia Euphorbia spp.

Pokeweed Phytolacca americana

Potato (sprouts

green skins) Solanum tuberosum

Pothos Eprimemnum aureum

Privet Ligustrum volgare

Rhodendron Rhododendron spp.

Rhubarb Rheum rhaponticum

Skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus

Snowdrop Ornithogalum umbellatum

Tobacco Nicotinia spp.

Virginia creeper Panthenocissus quinquefolia

Weeping fig Ficus benjamina

Wisteria Wisteria spp.

Yew Taxus breviflora

For a list of safe branches for use as natural perches, see this guide.

This article copyright © Gillian A.Willis. Presented at Pacific Crest with permission of the author. Permission to re-use any part of this text (whole or in part) must be obtained from the author.