{"id":"christmas-rose","common_names":["Christmas Rose","Hellebore","Easter Rose","Lenten Rose","Winter Rose"],"scientific_name":"Helleborus niger","urls":{"plant":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/christmas-rose","cats":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/christmas-rose/cats","dogs":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/christmas-rose/dogs","data":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/christmas-rose/data.json"},"toxicity":{"cat":{"severity":3,"grade":"S3 Toxic","verdict_sentence":"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.","toxic_principles":["Cardiac glycosides, saponins, protoanemonin","Bufadienolides, glycosides, veratrin and prtoanemonin, as listed by the ASPCA"],"toxic_parts":[],"symptoms":[{"sign":"Drooling","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Abdominal pain","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Diarrhea","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Colic","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Depression","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Vomiting","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Heart rate and rhythm changes","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Neurological signs","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Persistent vomiting and diarrhea, often containing blood","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Electrolyte imbalances","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Hallucinations","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal","onset":"not specified in source"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/christmas-rose","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/hellebore","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lenten-rose","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/easter-rose","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/christmas-rose/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/holiday-toxins/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"}],"reviewed_by":"auto","reviewed_at":"2026-11-03"},"dog":{"severity":3,"grade":"S3 Toxic","verdict_sentence":"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.","toxic_principles":["Cardiac glycosides, saponins, protoanemonin","Bufadienolides, glycosides, veratrin and prtoanemonin, as listed by the ASPCA"],"toxic_parts":[],"symptoms":[{"sign":"Drooling","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Abdominal pain","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Diarrhea","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Colic","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Depression","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Vomiting","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Heart rate and rhythm changes","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Neurological signs","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Persistent vomiting and diarrhea, often containing blood","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Electrolyte imbalances","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Hallucinations","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"Cardiac glycoside effects can be fatal","onset":"not specified in source"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/christmas-rose","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/hellebore","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lenten-rose","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/easter-rose","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/christmas-rose/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/holiday-toxins/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-11-03"}],"reviewed_by":"auto","reviewed_at":"2026-11-03"}},"license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","terms":"Free to reuse with attribution to Verdapaw and a link to the plant page."},"cite_as":"Verdapaw Plant × Pet Safety Index, verdapaw.com/plants/christmas-rose, reviewed 2026-11-03"}