Is Bead Tree Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Melia azedarach
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Tetranortriterpenoids ("meliatoxins"), concentrated in the berries |
| Onset of symptoms | A few hours to a day |
| Indoor / outdoor | outdoor |
If your pet ate this plant
Both lines are staffed 24/7. A consultation fee applies to each. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before calling.
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Symptoms in dogs
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Seizures with large ingestion
Symptoms in cats
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
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What to do
Contact a vet urgently, especially for berry ingestion — as few as 6-8 berries have caused serious poisoning in dogs.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Bead Tree is tetranortriterpenoids ("meliatoxins"), concentrated in the berries.
Part-specific risk: Berries are far more concentrated in toxins than leaves.
What makes this plant different
Bead Tree's berries were historically strung into rosary beads (giving the plant its name), and those same decorative berries carry meaningfully more toxin concentration than the leaves — as few as 6-8 berries have caused serious poisoning in a dog.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Melia azedarach
- Family
- Meliaceae
- Also known as
- Bead Tree, China Ball Tree, Paradise Tree, Persian Lilac, White Cedar, Japanese Bead Tree, Texas Umbrella Tree, Pride-of-India, Chinaberry Tree
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control