Is Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp. (Aglaonema modestum)), also called aglaonema, is mildly toxic to both cats and dogs.

Why

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because it contains insoluble calcium oxalates. These needle-like crystals cause pain and swelling in the mouth, tongue and lips the moment the leaves are chewed.

Chinese evergreen is one of the plants ASPCA Poison Control hears about most often, mainly because it is so widely grown. ASPCA Poison Control describes the severity of these exposures as low, and most pets recover with simple care.

How to recognize it

Chinese evergreen forms a clump of upright stems with long, oval, pointed leaves. Older types are green with silver patterns, while newer hybrids are splashed or edged with red, pink or orange. It sometimes produces a small flower with a hood like a peace lily.

Signs to watch for

• Pawing at the mouth
• Excessive drooling
• Swelling of the mouth, tongue or lips
• Vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing

What to do

• Rinse your pet's mouth with water and offer a cool drink.
• Call your vet if drooling or vomiting continues, or immediately if your pet struggles to breathe.
• Raise floor pots onto a stand or move them to a room your pet does not use.

Red and pink Chinese evergreens

Chinese evergreen hybrids with red and pink leaves have become popular gifts, especially in Asia, where red is a lucky color. Bright foliage does not make a plant safer. The colored hybrids are still Aglaonema and carry the same calcium oxalate crystals as the plain green ones.

Chinese evergreen plants given as gifts often arrive with ribbons, plastic decorations or decorative stones on the soil. Remove the extras, since a dog that swallows a ribbon or a pebble has a different and sometimes more serious problem than mouth irritation.

Chinese evergreen or dieffenbachia?

Chinese evergreen and dieffenbachia are often confused because both have long, patterned leaves on upright stems. Dieffenbachia usually grows taller on thick, cane-like stems, while Chinese evergreen stays lower and bushier.

Chinese evergreen and dieffenbachia need the same caution, so a mix-up does not change what you should do. Both are aroids with insoluble calcium oxalates, and both cause the same pattern of mouth pain and drooling. Dieffenbachia's thick canes hold more sap, so a pet that chews a cane may react more strongly.

A plant for dim corners, at dog height

Chinese evergreen is valued because it tolerates low light, so it often ends up in a floor pot in a hallway, an office corner or beside the sofa. That puts its leaves exactly at the height of a dog's mouth.

Chinese evergreen leaves that turn yellow and fall are as irritating as green ones, and puppies tend to pick up anything left on the floor. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists Aglaonema among the plants whose raphides cause immediate pain and drooling, so it is worth clearing fallen leaves the same day.

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicCalathea (prayer plant)
• Non-toxicAfrican violet

Common questions

Is chinese evergreen poisonous to pets?

Cats: Mildly toxic. Dogs: Mildly toxic. Chinese evergreen is mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing Aglaonema causes mouth pain, drooling and sometimes vomiting, but serious illness is rare.

Is it safe to keep chinese evergreen in a home with cats and dogs?

Yes, as long as your pets cannot reach it. Raise floor pots onto a stand or move them to a room your pet does not use.

What should I do if my pet chews chinese evergreen?

Rinse your pet's mouth with water and offer a cool drink. Call your vet if drooling or vomiting continues, or immediately if your pet struggles to breathe.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of chinese evergreen?

Calathea and African violet are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

← All plants

Sources

• ASPCA. These Houseplants Can Cause Trouble for Your Pets.
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals.
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).