15 Toxic Plants To Keep Out Of Your Reptile’s Terrarium

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Animals raised in captivity or that have been taken out of their natural habitat, are no longer able to instinctively know what plants are safe or not to eat. Your reptiles will attempt to eat or brush against any plants they have access to, even if they are dangerous. After much research, I have put together a list of toxic plants that you should make sure to keep away from your reptile.

Toxic plants to keep out of your reptile’s terrarium:

Avocado (Persea americana)
Azalea (Rhododendron)
Bracken Fern (Pteridium)

Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
Holiday Favorites (Holly, Mistletoe, Poinsettia)

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
Lily (Lilium)
Marijuana (Cannabis)

Mushrooms (Fungi)
Nightshade (Solanaceae)
Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Shamrock (Trifolium dubium)
Yews (Taxus)

Within this article, I have included specific information on the suggested plants listed, including which parts of the plants are toxic, and common symptoms to look out for after contact. As a bonus, you will also find a compiled list of over 350 toxic plants that are commonly harmful for reptiles that I discovered through my research. I hope that through this article, you are one step closer to building a safe, comfortable home for your favorite pet!

If you are interested in a collection of plants that are safe for reptiles and their terrariums, see our article on safe plants for reptiles covering over 135 different options.

1. Avocado (Persea americana)

The main parts of an avocado tree that are toxic to reptiles are the fruit, the pith, and the stems. Common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and labored breathing. An avocado tree may seem like an odd choice for a terrarium plant, but I decided to include it in the list for those who have reptiles that eat plants and fruits.

2. Azalea (Rhododendron)

The Azalea plant is a flowering shrub with many different species of different colors. The entire plant is toxic and should be avoided. Azaleas contain andromedotoxins in both their leaves and nectar. Common symptoms after exposure are nausea, vomiting, depression, and difficulty breathing. Your reptile could even be put into a coma if the plant is ingested in larger quantities.

3. Bracken Fern (Pteridium)

Bracken ferns are a common household plant but should never be used in your pet’s terrarium. They are quite toxic and have been known to cause cancer in animals. Other common symptoms are blindness, heart failure, and death. As Bracken poisoning is essentially untreatable, the best prevention method is to avoid it altogether.

4. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

The Castor bean plant is the source of one of the most poisonous substances currently known. The seeds from the castor bean plant produce the ricin toxin which is lethal to humans and animals alike. Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms if your pet is lucky enough to have survived for more than 3-5 days after ingestion. The plant is also known to cause dermatitis.

Due to the dangerous nature of this plant, it is advised to not even have the castor bean plant in your garden or around the house if you have children in the home. Even though the seeds are the most toxic part of the plant, poisoning can still occur through ingestion of the leaves.

5. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)

The dumb cane plant gets its name from the effects of its poison. The poison on its leaves/foliage causes swelling, and when ingested, the swelling is so bad that the victim is unable to speak. Other common symptoms are an upset Stomach, oral Irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, Seizures, loss of Balance, and possibly death.

6. Holiday Favorites (Holly, Mistletoe, Poinsettia)

If your one to get into the holiday spirit, be sure to keep these plants out of your reptile’s terrarium and away from any areas where your pet may explore.

Holly is a beautiful holiday decoration, but the berries are poisonous to humans and animals. Common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, lip smacking, and head shaking. The leaves of the plant may also be harmful to smaller reptiles due to their spiky edges.

Mistletoe is often called the plant of love and is a common holiday tradition. However, the plant is quite toxic to reptiles and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, shock, and even death. Ingesting small amounts of the berries or leaves are unlikely to cause serious poisoning but it is still recommended to be kept away from your pets.

Poinsettias are a very common plant during the Christmas season as they reach full bloom in December. Their bright, red petals are actually leaves and combined with its green foliage, provide the perfect holiday display. Poinsettias are only mildly toxic and can cause mild drooling, licking lips, vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation and eye irritation. Symptoms can be caused through ingestion or physical contact with the plant’s milky sap.

7. Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)

The entire Jimsonweed plant is toxic and can cause harmful effects if consumed. Common symptoms are abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence, hallucination, hyperthermia, and bizarre behavior. Jimsonweed is best known for being used by adolescents for its hallucination effects and can be found along roadsides, gardens, valleys, and backyards.

8. Lily (Lilium)

There are many different species of lilies and most of them are toxic to reptiles. The entire plant is toxic, and your pet can even be poisoned just by drinking water surrounding the plant. The most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and mental confusion. Dermatitis and skin irritation can also occur during contact.

Common lily species to be aware of are Lily of the Valley, Oriental Lily, Peace Lily, Peruvian Lily, Tiger Lily, Arum Lily, Calla Lily, Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, and Leopard Lily.

9. Marijuana (Cannabis)

There are a few ways that that the Cannabis plant can be harmful to reptiles. Marijuana poisoning can occur through smoke inhalation, ingesting THC edibles, or ingesting the plant itself.

As reptiles’ lungs are not as developed as mammals, smoke inhalation can be quite harmful. You should never purposefully breathe Marijuana smoke, or any smoke for that matter, directly into your reptile’s enclosure or vicinity.

Signs of toxicity can be seen anywhere from 5 minutes to 12 hours after the animal is exposed to marijuana.

Symptoms to look out for are increased stress, sedation/lethargy, dilated pupils or glassed over eyes, dazed expression, difficulty walking and vomiting, low or high heart rate, vocalization such as whining or crying, agitation, trouble regulating temperature causing the body temperature to drop or rise and incontinence/dribbling urine, tremors, seizures and potentially a coma if ingested.

10. Mushrooms (Fungi)

Although there may be some non-toxic species of mushrooms, there are many toxic species that can be harmful to your reptiles. Misidentification is the leading cause of mushroom poisoning in humans so trying to identify which species are safe for your pet is a risky endeavor.

Common toxic mushrooms to be aware of are Amanita phalloides, Inocybe, Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina, Clitocybe, and Scleroderma citrinum.

11. Nightshade (Solanaceae)

There are a variety of nightshade species that have varied levels of toxicity. The plant foliage and berries can be extremely poisonous if ingested and can cause intense digestive disturbances and hallucinations.

12. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Oleander contains two extremely toxic components, oleandroside and nerioside. These dangerous toxins exist in the entire plant, from the leaves and branches, to the seeds and flowers. Ingestion of Oleander can be fatal and simply touching the plant can cause skin irritation.

Common symptoms are colic, sweating, incoordination, difficulty breathing or shallow breathing, muscle tremors, and diarrhea.

13. Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

The leaves of the Primrose plant are covered with small hairs that discharge toxins. If touched, your reptile is likely to experience immediate irritation and could develop painful blisters or dermatitis. Other symptoms if the plant is ingested are mild vomiting and digestive problems.

14. Shamrock (Trifolium dubium)

The Shamrock is commonly known as the symbol of Ireland. But don’t let the luck of the Irish fool you, this plant can be quite harmful to your pet if ingested. Soluble calcium oxalates are present in varying degrees in the entire plant and can cause drooling, vomiting, lethargy, weakness, tremors, bloody urine, and diarrhea.

15. Yews (Taxus)

The bark, leaves, red berries, and seeds of Yews contain a toxin called taxine which can be quite harmful if ingested. The Florida Yew, English Yew, Japanese Yew, Pacific Yew, and Ground Hemlock are all varieties of the Yew species which contain taxine and can cause Yew poisoning.

Common symptoms include drooling, vomiting, weakness, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, and potentially death.

Final Thoughts

The safety of your reptile should be your top priority so it is extremely important to understand which plants can be harmful to your pet. Not only is it important not to include toxic plants in your reptile’s terrarium, but it is also important to make sure you keep these plants away from any areas that your reptile may explore or have access to.