Is Dracaena safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Dragon Tree, Ribbon Plant. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Dracaena) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for Dracaena

The ASPCA records Dracaena (Dracaena, family Agavaceae) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats. Toxic principle: Saponins. Clinical signs listed: Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). Read the ASPCA entry.

Dilated pupils are listed for cats specifically, so a cat that looks glassy-eyed after chewing a leaf is showing a recorded sign. The entry is genus-level and gives verdicts for dogs and cats only, stating none for horses.

This is a genus entry covering Dracaena species generally, so it is the applicable ASPCA record for the whole group sold as dracaena, including the corn plant, the dragon tree and lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana). Individual species mostly do not carry their own entries, so finding nothing under a specific species name is a gap in their index rather than a safe verdict.

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 Dracaena, 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.