Is Peacock Flower Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Unidentified GI irritants, concentrated in the seed pods |
| 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.
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Symptoms in dogs
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Symptoms in cats
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
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What to do
Contact a vet, especially if seed pods were eaten — they carry a higher concentration of the irritant compounds than the flowers.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Peacock Flower is unidentified gi irritants, concentrated in the seed pods.
Part-specific risk: Seed pods are more concentrated in toxins than flowers.
What makes this plant different
Peacock Flower's toxicity is concentrated in the seed pods rather than its showy orange-red flowers, following the same part-specific risk pattern seen in several other ornamental legumes on this list.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Caesalpinia pulcherrima
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Also known as
- Peacock Flower, Barbados Pride, Dwarf Poinciana
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control