Plant safety record
Caladium
Caladium hortulanum
Caladium is toxic to cats and dogs because it contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing can cause immediate burning and swelling in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Cats
TOXIC
Cats may drool, paw at the mouth, vomit, or stop eating after biting a caladium leaf or stem.
Dogs
TOXIC
Dogs may develop mouth pain, lip or tongue swelling, drooling, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing after chewing caladium.
Quick answer
Remove the plant and any loose pieces that are easy to reach. Call your veterinarian if mouth pain, drooling, swelling, or vomiting is more than mild.
Trouble breathing, marked swelling, repeated vomiting, or an inability to swallow normally requires urgent veterinary attention.
Plant identity
Caladium bicolor (formerly Caladium × hortulanum)
What happens when caladium is chewed
Chewing breaks plant cells and releases insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Those crystals irritate the lips, tongue, mouth, and throat.
The discomfort often starts quickly. A pet may stop after one bite and still show heavy drooling, gagging, lip smacking, or pawing at the face.
Signs to watch for
Expected signs include oral pain, swelling of the lips or tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Unusual breathing sounds, worsening swelling, marked distress, persistent vomiting, or refusal to drink deserves prompt veterinary care.
What to do right now
Move the plant out of reach and collect fallen leaves or stems. Do not reach deep into the throat, make your pet vomit, or force food, milk, oil, or another home remedy.
Keep a label or take photographs of the whole plant and leaves. Contact a veterinarian or animal poison-control service when the amount or identity is uncertain.
How to recognize caladium
Caladium is grown for broad arrowhead- or heart-shaped leaves. The foliage may be green, white, pink, red, or combinations of those colors with contrasting veins.
The leaves rise individually on long stems from an underground tuber. The flowers are small and usually much less noticeable than the foliage.
Why the scientific name may differ
Older labels and safety references may use Caladium hortulanum or Caladium × hortulanum. Current plant references commonly use Caladium bicolor for many cultivated forms.
The name difference does not make the plant safe. Match the colorful arrow-shaped foliage and label rather than dismissing an exposure because the scientific wording varies.
Common-name confusion
Caladium may be called elephant ears, angel wings, or mother-in-law plant. Elephant ears can also refer to Colocasia and Alocasia, which have their own records and similar irritant risks.
Related calcium-oxalate houseplants such as Dieffenbachia and Peace Lily can cause similar mouth symptoms.
Preventing another exposure
Pick up fallen leaves promptly and keep stored tubers where pets cannot dig them out or chew them. A high shelf is not enough when leaves hang into a climbing route.
Bag pruning waste before placing it in an accessible trash container.
Related plant records
Decision support
Looking for a pet-safer alternative?
These are editorially reviewed alternatives for the visual or growth role described below. Correct identification still matters, and plants listed as non-toxic are not intended for pets to eat.
- CalatheaCalathea spp.
Why consider it: broad, decorative foliage.
Calathea is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the cited source.
Safety conclusions link to each plant record’s cited source. Similarity is a reviewed, directional relationship—not an automatic visual match.
Evidence and sources
- ASPCA — CaladiumCaladium is toxic to cats and dogs because of insoluble calcium oxalates; signs include oral irritation, swelling, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
- NC State Extension — Caladium bicolorCaladium has colorful arrowhead- or heart-shaped leaves and is propagated from tubers; Caladium x hortulanum is a former name.
Practical next steps
Plan around this plant
These guides help with household setup. They do not change this plant’s toxicity conclusion or replace veterinary advice.