Is Cardinal Flower Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Lobelia cardinalis
Advertisement
Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Piperidine alkaloids (lobeline) |
| Onset of symptoms | Within a few hours |
| 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.
Advertisement
Symptoms in dogs
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Difficulty breathing
- Collapse with large ingestion
Symptoms in cats
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Difficulty breathing
Advertisement
What to do
Treat as a serious exposure — lobeline affects the nervous system similarly to nicotine, and this ordinary-looking wildflower carries more risk than its appearance suggests.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Cardinal Flower is piperidine alkaloids (lobeline).
What makes this plant different
Cardinal Flower's lobeline alkaloid works on the nervous system in ways pharmacologically similar to nicotine — a fact that gets little attention given the plant's popularity as a native wildflower and hummingbird attractant.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Lobelia cardinalis
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Also known as
- Cardinal Flower, Lobelia, Indian Pink
- Typically found
- outdoor
Pet-safe alternatives
Advertisement
Related plants
African Wonder Tree
Ricinus communis
American Mandrake
Podophyllum peltatum
American Yew
Taxus canadensus
Andromeda Japonica
Pieris japonica
Asian Lily
Lilium asiatica
See all Campanulaceae plants →
Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control