Home › Guides

10 Florida Yard Plants That Are Toxic to Cats (and Cat-Safe Swaps)

By Justin N. · Ocala / Central Florida · Updated 2026-10-30 · Affiliate disclosure: no affiliate links on this page

Felix and Cleo get fenced backyard time twice a day, and Cleo spends most of hers nose-down in the grass and leaf litter hunting lizards. That got us thinking about what's growing at nose level, not just what's crawling there. Florida's climate lets people grow a huge range of landscape plants, and a UF/IFAS Extension review of common Florida landscape plants notes that many of them can be toxic if eaten, posing risks to pets. [1] Below are 10 that UF/IFAS describes as grown in Florida landscapes and that the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats: what part is the problem, what signs to watch for, and plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats that you could plant instead.

A note on "deadly"

Not every plant here carries the same risk. For some, like sago palm and true lilies, the sources say a small amount can kill a cat. For others, like lantana and kalanchoe, the ASPCA's listed signs for pets are mostly stomach upset, with severe effects described as rare or more common in livestock. [13][16] We've said which is which for each plant, and we'd still call about any of them. UF/IFAS also points out that a toxic plant doesn't automatically need to be ripped out: many of these have real landscape and wildlife value, and the key is keeping pets from eating them. [1]

The highest-risk plants

1. Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS describes sago palm as a popular ornamental in the subtropical U.S., mainly Florida, California, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. [1]

Toxic parts: All of it. UF/IFAS says all parts contain toxins, with the seeds holding the highest concentration of cycasin. [1] PetMD says the orange-red seeds at the center are the most poisonous part and often fall out of the plant. [4]

Signs: The ASPCA lists vomiting, melena (dark, tarry stool), icterus (jaundice), increased thirst, bloody gastroenteritis, bruising, clotting problems, liver damage, liver failure, and death. [2] PetMD, citing Pet Poison Helpline, says signs can begin 15 minutes to several hours after a cat eats it, with neurological signs within about 4 hours and severe liver failure within 2 to 3 days. [4]

2. Coontie (Zamia)

Why it's in Florida yards: Coontie is a Florida native, and UF/IFAS includes it among common poisonous landscape plants in the state. [1] It's a cycad, in the same group as sago palm, which is easy to miss because it looks more like a low fern.

Toxic parts: All parts, with the seeds the most toxic, according to UF/IFAS. [1]

Signs: The ASPCA lists vomiting (may be bloody), dark stools, jaundice, increased thirst, bloody diarrhea, bruising, liver failure, and death, and says 1 to 2 seeds can be fatal. [3] PetMD advises keeping coontie, cycads, and zamias away from pets for the same reasons as sago palm. [4]

3. Daylilies and true lilies (Hemerocallis and Lilium)

Why they're in Florida yards: UF/IFAS says daylilies are widely favored and thrive in Florida landscapes. [1] True lilies, like Easter, Asiatic, Oriental, and stargazer lilies, show up as garden plants and in bouquets. [7]

Toxic parts: The whole plant. The FDA says the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase are toxic, and that eating a small piece of leaf or petal, licking a few pollen grains off fur while grooming, or drinking vase water can cause fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days. The toxin only affects cats. [7] Pet Poison Helpline also lists the rhizome (root). [10]

Signs: The ASPCA lists vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, kidney failure, and possible death for both Easter lilies and orange daylilies. [8][9] The FDA says early signs (less activity, drooling, vomiting, not eating) start 0 to 12 hours after eating, and that if treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more, the cat will generally have irreversible kidney failure. [7]

Not every plant called a "lily" is a true lily. The FDA notes that some, like the gloriosa lily below, cause different but still serious problems. [7]

4. Gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS says this climbing plant grows as a perennial in Florida and blooms from summer to fall. [1]

Toxic parts: UF/IFAS says all parts are poisonous to humans and animals, with the tuberous roots particularly toxic. The main toxin is colchicine. [1]

Signs: The ASPCA lists bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, and bone marrow suppression. [11]

5. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS calls it a beautiful addition to the Florida landscape, planted along highways throughout the state. [6]

Toxic parts: All parts, according to UF/IFAS. It contains cardiac glycosides, and UF/IFAS also warns that burning oleander clippings can release toxins into the smoke. [1][6]

Signs: The ASPCA lists drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, depression, and death. [5]

Serious, but usually less severe

6. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Brunfelsia)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS says it's commonly used as a hedge and container plant, and it handles shade. [1]

Toxic parts: UF/IFAS says all parts are considered highly poisonous, that dogs, cats, and children are especially drawn to the berries and flowers, and that the berries are highly toxic. [1]

Signs: The ASPCA lists tremors, seizures lasting several days, diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, incoordination, and coughing. [12] Seizures put this one closer to the top group than its friendly name suggests.

7. Azaleas (Rhododendron)

Why they're in Florida yards: UF/IFAS says azaleas are best suited to North and Central Florida gardens. [15] They're used as foundation, mass, and hedge plantings. [1]

Toxic parts: UF/IFAS says the toxin, grayanotoxin, is in all parts of the plant, including the flowers and nectar. [1]

Signs: The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and cardiac failure. [14]

8. Periwinkle, or vinca (Catharanthus roseus)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS describes periwinkle as a warm-season annual and Florida-Friendly plant that flowers through the summer in full sun. [19] The ASPCA lists it under the older name Vinca rosea.

Toxic parts: The ASPCA lists the plant as toxic to cats because of its vinca alkaloids. It doesn't single out one part. [18]

Signs: The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, depression, tremors, seizures, coma, and death. [18]

9. Lantana (Lantana camara)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS calls it one of the most popular landscape plants because it's heat, salt, and drought tolerant. It also notes that the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants classifies common lantana as invasive. [1]

Toxic parts: UF/IFAS says all parts are poisonous, particularly to livestock. The main toxins (lantadenes) are mostly in the leaves, and children can be poisoned by eating the berries. [1]

Signs: For pets, the ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, and weakness, and says liver failure is more common in livestock. [13]

10. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe)

Why it's in Florida yards: UF/IFAS Extension says the common Christmas kalanchoe can be planted outside, is recommended as a Florida-Friendly plant, and works in rock gardens, raised planters, and containers. [17]

Toxic parts: The ASPCA lists kalanchoe species as toxic to cats because of bufodienolides. It doesn't single out one part. [16]

Signs: The ASPCA lists vomiting and diarrhea, and an abnormal heart rhythm, which it describes as rare. [16]

Quick reference

What to do if your cat chewed something

1. Get your cat away from the plant and take a photo of the plant or a piece of it, so your vet or the poison line knows exactly what it was. That's our practical tip, not a source's.
2. Call right away, even if your cat seems fine. With sago palm and lilies, the sources say the outcome depends on how fast treatment starts. [4][7] Call one of these:
   • Your veterinarian or the nearest emergency vet.
   • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA says it's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and that a consultation fee may apply. [20]
   • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. It says it's available 24/7, and its site listed a $99 per-incident fee, including follow-up consultations, when we checked on Oct 30, 2026. [21]
3. Don't make your cat vomit on your own. Pet Poison Helpline says not to induce vomiting without consulting a vet or the helpline, and PetMD says doing it at home usually carries more risk than benefit for a cat. [21][4]
4. Follow their instructions, which may mean going straight to an emergency hospital. With sago palm, PetMD suggests calling a poison line on the way. [4]

Cat-safe swaps that grow in Florida

Every plant below is on the ASPCA's list of plants non-toxic to cats [22], and UF/IFAS describes each as growing in Florida. "Non-toxic" is about poisoning, not a promise a plant is a good snack. We'd still discourage chewing on anything in the yard, and check the exact species on the ASPCA list before you buy, since a common name can cover several plants.

• Instead of sago palm or coontie: Christmas palm (Adonidia merrillii). A small palm that UF/IFAS says suits small sites. The catch: it's only cold hardy to 30°F, so UF/IFAS notes it has only recently spread north into Central Florida with warmer winters. [23]
• Instead of oleander: crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) or rigid bottlebrush (Callistemon rigidus). UF/IFAS says crapemyrtle blooms all summer, handles heat and drought, and comes in sizes from dwarf shrubs to trees. [24] It says rigid bottlebrush is drought and salt tolerant and draws hummingbirds and butterflies. Skip weeping bottlebrush, which UF/IFAS's non-native plant assessment predicts will be invasive and doesn't recommend. [25]
• Instead of azaleas: camellias (Camellia japonica). UF/IFAS says most do best in partial shade with well-drained, preferably acidic soil, and they bloom in fall and winter. [26]
• Instead of lantana or periwinkle in a sunny bed: scarlet sage, swamp sunflower, or coreopsis.
  • Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea): UF/IFAS calls it a native perennial salvia, with white, pink, or red flowers. [27] The ASPCA lists this species as non-toxic. That doesn't cover every salvia, so look for the species name.
  • Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius): UF/IFAS says it's native to all regions of Florida, gives fall color, and is a pollinator favorite. [28]
  • Coreopsis: Florida's state wildflower, according to UF/IFAS, drought tolerant once established, and it attracts butterflies and bees. [29]
• Instead of yesterday, today, and tomorrow in a shady spot: cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior). UF/IFAS says it grows outdoors in all regions of Florida in filtered or deep shade, but not full sun. [30]

A quick yard walk

• ☐ Walk the yard and fence line at cat height. Look up anything you can't identify on the ASPCA's plant list, or call before your cat gets to it. [22]
• ☐ Check for sago palm or coontie, and pick up any fallen seeds. [4]
• ☐ No lilies in bouquets indoors, including the vase water and dropped pollen. [7]
• ☐ If you keep a toxic plant, put it where your cat can't reach or chew it, as UF/IFAS suggests. [1]
• ☐ Don't burn oleander clippings. [1]
• ☐ Save (888) 426-4435 and (855) 764-7661 in your phone next to your vet's number. [20][21]

This isn't a complete list. UF/IFAS says its own list isn't comprehensive either, and the ASPCA's full list of plants toxic to cats is much longer. [1][22] When in doubt, look the plant up there or call.

Sources

All sources were accessed and checked on 2026-10-30.

1. Khamare, Y., and C. Marble. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS ENH1384/EP648). Common Poisonous Landscape Plant Species in Florida (2025).
2. ASPCA. Sago Palm.
3. ASPCA. Coontie Palm.
4. PetMD. Sago Palm Poisoning in Cats.
5. ASPCA. Oleander.
6. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Oleander.
7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination.
8. ASPCA. Easter Lily.
9. ASPCA. Orange Day Lily.
10. Pet Poison Helpline. Lilies.
11. ASPCA. Climbing Lily (Gloriosa Lily).
12. ASPCA. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.
13. ASPCA. Lantana.
14. ASPCA. Azalea.
15. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Azaleas.
16. ASPCA. Kalanchoe.
17. UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. A Kalanchoe by Any Other Name (2025).
18. ASPCA. Periwinkle.
19. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Periwinkles.
20. ASPCA. Animal Poison Control.
21. Pet Poison Helpline. 24/7 Animal Poison Control Center.
22. ASPCA. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List: Cats.
23. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Christmas Palm.
24. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Crapemyrtle.
25. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Bottlebrush.
26. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Camellias.
27. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Salvia.
28. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Swamp Sunflower.
29. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Coreopsis.
30. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Cast Iron Plant.