Elephant-Ear Begonia
Begonia scharfii · Begoniaceae
How it looks
Elephant-ear begonia is a begonia with very large, oblique leaves (12–20 in across). The leaves are deep green with a purplish tinge, and the undersides are purple. Grows 2–5 ft tall — the large leaves resemble elephant ears, which is how it got its name.
Mild caution — stomach upset
The roots (most toxic part) and leaves of elephant-ear begonia contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
A nibble or two of elephant-ear begonia rarely leads to serious trouble, but its calcium oxalates and soluble oxalates irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild digestive upset. Make it a habit to clear 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's appetite drops noticeably, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Within minutes to 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Oral irritation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Begonia scharfii
- Common name
- Elephant-Ear Begonia
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Toxic parts
- Roots (most toxic part), Leaves
- Compounds
- Calcium oxalates, Soluble oxalates
- Onset
- Within minutes to 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Oral irritation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
