§ Toxic plants · 10 plants · Checked Oct 2026
Trees toxic to cats and dogs
Shade and landscape trees, with their leaves, seeds and nuts. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists all 10 as toxic to cats and dogs; each one below has the signs to watch for and a severity rating from Plant Smart.
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§ 010 · The list
Every plant on this list
| Plant | Cats | Dogs | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Toxic | Toxic | Severe |
| Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia | Toxic | Toxic | Severe |
| Brown-top stringybark Eucalyptus obliqua | Toxic | Toxic | Mild |
| Buckeyes Aesculus spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Severe |
| Chinaberry Melia azedarach | Toxic | Toxic | Critical |
| Eastern black walnut Juglans nigra | Toxic | Toxic | Severe |
| Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum | Toxic | Toxic | Severe |
| Laburnum Laburnum spp. | — | Toxic | Severe |
| Locust trees Robinia spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Severe |
| Walnuts Juglans spp. | — | Toxic | Severe |
§ 020 · If it happened
What to do if your pet ate one
Call your vet or a pet poison hotline straight away, even if your pet seems fine: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661. Both are open 24 hours and charge a fee. Have the plant or a photo of it to hand, and don’t make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
§ 030 · Plant by plant
Plant by plant
Is black cherry toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include dilated pupils, trouble breathing, panting and shock. Also called escarpment black cherry, eastern black cherry, alabama cherry and western black cherry.
Is black locust toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include vomiting, dullness or depression, loss of appetite, weakness, trouble breathing, diarrhea, belly pain, wobbliness or poor coordination and dilated pupils. Eaten in quantity, it can be fatal.
Is brown-top stringybark toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Brown-top stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Mild, level 1 of 4. Signs include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, dullness or depression and weakness.
Are buckeyes toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Buckeyes (Aesculus spp.) are toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates their effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, dullness or depression, overexcitement, dilated pupils, coma, seizures, wobbliness or poor coordination, belly pain, weakness, tremors and lying down and unable to get up.
Is chinaberry toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Critical, level 4 of 4. Signs include diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, dullness or depression, weakness, seizures, belly pain, trouble breathing, tremors, wobbliness or poor coordination, collapse and paralysis.
Is eastern black walnut toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include tremors, seizures and wobbliness or poor coordination.
Is horse-chestnut toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, dullness or depression, dilated pupils, coma, seizures, belly pain, weakness, tremors and lying down and unable to get up.
Is laburnum toxic to dogs?
Yes. Laburnum (Laburnum spp.) is toxic to dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coma, tremors, lying down and unable to get up and dilated pupils.
Are locust trees toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Locust trees (Robinia spp.) are toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates their effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include vomiting, dullness or depression, loss of appetite, weakness, trouble breathing, diarrhea, belly pain, wobbliness or poor coordination and dilated pupils. Eaten in quantity, it can be fatal.
Are walnuts toxic to dogs?
Yes. Walnuts (Juglans spp.) are toxic to dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates their effects Severe, level 3 of 4. Signs include tremors, seizures and wobbliness or poor coordination.
§ 040 · Questions
Questions about trees toxic to cats and dogs
Which of these are the most dangerous?
Plant Smart rates Chinaberry Critical, the highest of its four levels.
What should I do if my pet ate one?
Call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away, even before signs appear: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both charge a fee. Have the plant, or a photo of it, to hand.
Where does this list come from?
From the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's plant list, by way of Plant Smart, which adds a four-level severity rating.
Is a plant missing from this list safe?
Not necessarily. A plant can be missing because nobody has reported a case. Call your vet if your pet eats any plant and seems unwell.