{"id":"umbrella-plant","common_names":["Umbrella Plant","Umbrella Tree","Schefflera","Dwarf Umbrella Tree","Octopus Tree","Starleaf","Australian Ivy Palm"],"scientific_name":"Schefflera spp. (Heptapleurum)","urls":{"plant":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/umbrella-plant","cats":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/umbrella-plant/cats","dogs":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/umbrella-plant/dogs","data":"https://verdapaw.com/plants/umbrella-plant/data.json"},"toxicity":{"cat":{"severity":2,"grade":"S2 Irritant","verdict_sentence":"Umbrella plant (Schefflera, the umbrella tree) is an irritant to cats (S2 Irritant): its calcium oxalate crystals cause intense burning of the mouth, drooling, gagging, and vomiting when chewed — the same mechanism as pothos and peace lily, with throat swelling possible in rare cases.","toxic_principles":["calcium oxalate crystals (insoluble oxalates)","terpenoids","saponins"],"toxic_parts":["all parts (crystals released when chewed)"],"symptoms":[{"sign":"oral irritation; intense burning of mouth, lips and tongue","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"excessive drooling","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"gagging","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"vomiting","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"difficulty swallowing","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"mild diarrhea","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"severe throat swelling with breathing difficulty (rare)","onset":"not specified in source"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/schefflera","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-18"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/umbrella-tree","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-18"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/schefflera/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-09-18"}],"reviewed_by":"Zhe Li","reviewed_at":"2026-09-18"},"dog":{"severity":2,"grade":"S2 Irritant","verdict_sentence":"Umbrella plant (Schefflera, the umbrella tree) is an irritant to dogs (S2 Irritant): its calcium oxalate crystals cause intense burning of the mouth, drooling, gagging, and vomiting when chewed — the same mechanism as pothos and peace lily, with throat swelling possible in rare cases.","toxic_principles":["calcium oxalate crystals (insoluble oxalates)","terpenoids","saponins"],"toxic_parts":["all parts (crystals released when chewed)"],"symptoms":[{"sign":"oral irritation; intense burning of mouth, lips and tongue","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"excessive drooling","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"gagging","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"vomiting","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"difficulty swallowing","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"mild diarrhea","onset":"not specified in source"},{"sign":"severe throat swelling with breathing difficulty (rare)","onset":"not specified in source"}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/schefflera","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-18"},{"url":"https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/umbrella-tree","name":"ASPCA","accessed_at":"2026-09-18"},{"url":"https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/schefflera/","name":"PPH","accessed_at":"2026-09-18"}],"reviewed_by":"Zhe Li","reviewed_at":"2026-09-18"}},"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/umbrella-plant, reviewed 2026-09-18"}