Chinaberry Tree
Also known as Bead Tree, China Ball Tree, Japanese Bead Tree, Pride-of-India. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): the ASPCA lists tetranortriterpenes (meliatoxins), with diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, depression, weakness, and seizures. Ripe fruit is the most toxic part, and bark, leaves, and flowers are also named. Pet Poison Helpline says all parts contain tetranortriterpene (meliatoxins) and saponins, with the highest concentration in the berries, and that large ingestions result in severe signs including bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness, and paralysis.
FULL VERDICT →Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) is toxic to dogs (S3 Toxic): the ASPCA lists tetranortriterpenes (meliatoxins), with diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, depression, weakness, and seizures. Ripe fruit is the most toxic part, and bark, leaves, and flowers are also named. Pet Poison Helpline says all parts contain tetranortriterpene (meliatoxins) and saponins, with the highest concentration in the berries, and that large ingestions result in severe signs including bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness, and paralysis.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Salivation
- Depression
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Large ingestions: bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness, and paralysis
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Salivation
- Depression
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Large ingestions: bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness, and paralysis
When to call the vet
Contact your vet promptly after ingestion. The ASPCA lists seizures. Pet Poison Helpline says large ingestions result in severe signs including bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness, and paralysis.
FULL VERDICT →Contact your vet promptly after ingestion. The ASPCA lists seizures. Pet Poison Helpline says large ingestions result in severe signs including bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness, and paralysis.
FULL VERDICT →Safe swaps, graded S0
Non-toxic on record for cats — verified against the index at build time.
FAQ
Which plant does this chinaberry verdict cover?
Melia azedarach. The Chinaberry Tree and Bead Tree entries both use that scientific name. The family is Meliaceae. The additional-name field also includes Paradise Tree, Persian Lilac, White Cedar, and Texas Umbrella Tree. Those strings are not the display name. Bird of paradise and Umbrella plant are separate records. This verdict is Melia azedarach only. Check the scientific name on the tag.
Which parts do the chinaberry sources name?
The ASPCA says "Ripe fruit (berries) most toxic but also bark, leaves, and flowers." Pet Poison Helpline says "Tetranortriterpene (meliatoxins) and saponins in all parts of the plant with highest concentration of these toxins found in berries (fruit)." It also says "Ingestion by companion animals and some livestock lead to gastrointestinal distress (vomiting, diarrhea, drooling). Large ingestions result in severe signs including bloody diarrhea, seizure, weakness and paralysis." The printed verb is "lead". Contact your vet promptly after ingestion.