Fleabane
Erigeron speciosus · Asteraceae
How it looks
Fleabane is a herbaceous plant with slender stems, narrow, long leaves arranged alternately, and small daisy-shaped flowers gathered at the branch tips. The white-to-pale-purple petals are very numerous and thread-like, with a yellow center. It stands 12–31 in (30–80 cm) tall.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Fleabane contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling 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 Fleabane rarely leads to serious trouble, but its sesquiterpene lactones 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
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Erigeron speciosus
- Common name
- Fleabane
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Sesquiterpene lactones
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
