Christmas Rose
Also known as Hellebore, Easter Rose, Lenten Rose, Winter Rose. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): the ASPCA Christmas Rose entry lists cardiac glycosides, saponins, and protoanemonin, with drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and depression. The Hellebore, Lenten Rose, and Easter Rose entries for the same scientific name list bufadienolides, glycosides, veratrin, and prtoanemonin, as listed by the ASPCA. Pet Poison Helpline says gastrointestinal signs, including vomiting, occur routinely, and heart rate and rhythm changes and neurological signs are also possible. Its Holiday Toxins article says the cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal.
FULL VERDICT →Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is toxic to dogs (S3 Toxic): the ASPCA Christmas Rose entry lists cardiac glycosides, saponins, and protoanemonin, with drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and depression. The Hellebore, Lenten Rose, and Easter Rose entries for the same scientific name list bufadienolides, glycosides, veratrin, and prtoanemonin, as listed by the ASPCA. Pet Poison Helpline says gastrointestinal signs, including vomiting, occur routinely, and heart rate and rhythm changes and neurological signs are also possible. Its Holiday Toxins article says the cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Colic
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Heart rate and rhythm changes
- Neurological signs
- Persistent vomiting and diarrhea, often containing blood
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Hallucinations
- Cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Colic
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Heart rate and rhythm changes
- Neurological signs
- Persistent vomiting and diarrhea, often containing blood
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Hallucinations
- Cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal
When to call the vet
Contact your vet promptly after ingestion of Christmas rose. Heart rate and rhythm changes are possible, and the Holiday Toxins article says the cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal.
FULL VERDICT →Contact your vet promptly after ingestion of Christmas rose. Heart rate and rhythm changes are possible, and the Holiday Toxins article says the cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal.
FULL VERDICT →Safe swaps, graded S0
Non-toxic on record for cats — verified against the index at build time.
Seasonal: this plant comes into homes around the December holidays.
FAQ
Which plant does this Christmas rose verdict cover?
Helleborus niger. The ASPCA Christmas Rose, Hellebore, Lenten Rose, and Easter Rose entries all give that scientific name. Pet Poison Helpline's Christmas Rose page gives the same name and also lists Winter rose. This verdict follows Helleborus niger. A Pet Poison Helpline page titled Hellebore gives the scientific name Helleborus and is not used to grade the whole genus. Check the scientific name on the tag.
Which signs do the sources name for Christmas rose?
The ASPCA Christmas Rose entry lists drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and depression. Pet Poison Helpline adds vomiting and says heart rate and rhythm changes and neurological signs are also possible. The Holiday Toxins article adds persistent vomiting and diarrhea, often containing blood, plus electrolyte imbalances, hallucinations, and cardiac glycoside effects that can be fatal. Contact your vet promptly after ingestion.