Eastern Star
Dianthus spp. · Caryophyllaceae
How it looks
Eastern Star is a plant that bears flowers with five fringed, serrated petals splayed out like a pinwheel. Pink, red, and white are common, with a darker pattern in the center. The leaves are slender and gray-green, and it grows 8–20 in (20–50 cm) tall.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Eastern Star contain irritating compounds that can cause gastrointestinal signs like vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Eastern Star rarely leads to serious trouble, but its saponins can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Mild gastrointestinal upset
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Dianthus spp.
- Common name
- Eastern Star
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Saponins
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Mild gastrointestinal upset
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
