Is Bird of Paradise safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Crane Flower, Bird's Tongue Flower. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Strelitzia) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for Bird of Paradise

The ASPCA records its Bird of Paradise Flower entry, filed under Strelitzia reginae (family Strelitziaceae), as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses. Toxic principle: GI irritants. Clinical signs listed: Mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness; caused mainly by fruit and seeds. Read the ASPCA entry.

This is one of the gentler toxic entries in the database. The ASPCA records the principle only as GI irritants, calls the nausea mild, and says the trouble is caused mainly by fruit and seeds rather than the leaves, which is the part of the plant a house cat is actually likely to reach. Drowsiness is the sign worth watching, since it is easy to read as a pet simply settling down.

The ASPCA files this under Strelitzia reginae, the orange-flowered crane flower. Large indoor bird of paradise plants are often the white-flowered Strelitzia nicolai instead, which has no entry of its own, so this page rests on the reginae entry for the genus. The far more important naming problem is the one below, and the ASPCA flags it themselves on both entries.

Do not confuse Bird of Paradise with the shrub also called Bird of Paradise

This is the one collision in the database the ASPCA warns about in their own words, on both entries. Their page for the houseplant says it should not be confused with Caesalpinia or Poinciana gilliesii, which is also known as Bird of Paradise and is more toxic. The other page returns the warning, describing the houseplant as the less toxic Strelitzia reginae. The two are not related: one is a Strelitziaceae houseplant whose fruit and seeds cause mild nausea, the other a legume shrub grown outdoors whose entry records possible hydrocyanic acid, incoordination, and deaths reported in rabbits. Searching the plain name Bird of Paradise on their site returns the shrub, not the houseplant. The ASPCA lists the shrub also called Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, toxic principle possibly hydrocyanic acid, with clinical signs: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing and incoordination is possible. Deaths in rabbits have been reported. Read the ASPCA entry for the shrub also called Bird of Paradise. If you are unsure which one you have, treat it as the toxic plant until you can confirm, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 if your pet has eaten any of it.

What this verdict does and does not mean

Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

Safer alternatives

Looking for something with a similar look and habit that is pet-safe instead?

• Cast Iron Plant, see the care guide.
• Pilea (Chinese Money Plant), see the care guide.
• Money Tree, see the care guide.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for Bird of Paradise, browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.