Gardenia
Also known as Cape Jasmine. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Gardenia (cape jasmine) is an irritant to cats (S2 Irritant): the ASPCA lists geniposide and gardenoside as its toxic principles, with mild vomiting or diarrhea and hives as the signs on record.
FULL VERDICT →Gardenia (cape jasmine) is an irritant to dogs (S2 Irritant): the ASPCA lists geniposide and gardenoside as its toxic principles, with mild vomiting or diarrhea and hives as the signs on record.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- mild vomiting
- diarrhea
- hives (skin reaction)
- mild vomiting
- diarrhea
- hives (skin reaction)
When to call the vet
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, or a skin reaction spreads.
FULL VERDICT →Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, or a skin reaction spreads.
FULL VERDICT →Safe swaps, graded S0
Non-toxic on record for cats — verified against the index at build time.
FAQ
Is gardenia the same as jasmine?
No. The ASPCA lists gardenia under two names, "Gardenia" and "Cape Jasmine," and both point to the same plant, Gardenia jasminoides, in the coffee family — "Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats," with the principles geniposide and gardenoside and signs of "Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, hives." True jasmine (Jasminum) is a different genus with a different verdict — graded S0 Safe on our jasmine page; do not read this page as a verdict on jasmine. If a cat has chewed a gardenia, move the plant out of reach and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or raised, itchy welts on the skin; call your vet if signs persist or spread.