Why it's dangerous
Ingestion causes mild gastrointestinal irritation and occasional neurological effects such as lethargy and ataxia, though the specific toxin is not well-defined.
How vets treat it
We found no treatment specific to jade plant. For houseplants that mainly upset the stomach, the Merck Veterinary Manual describes supportive care: anti-nausea medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine and a bland diet, plus removing the plant so it isn't eaten again.
Outlook
The outlook is good. Signs are usually mild and clear up on their own. Cats seem more sensitive than dogs, but ASPCA says severe signs are rare.
Where pets are exposed
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata, also listed under its older name Crassula argentea) is a popular, low-maintenance succulent kept indoors as a houseplant. Most exposures happen when a pet chews or eats the leaves of a potted plant at home.
- In warm climates such as California, it is sometimes grown outdoors, so pets can also reach it in gardens.
- ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline describe the risk as eating the plant. They don't single out one part as more dangerous.
- Other names include baby jade, dwarf rubber plant, jade tree, Chinese or Japanese rubber plant, lucky plant, money plant or money tree, and friendship tree. Some of these names also belong to other plants (see the questions below).
- "Chinese jade" is a different plant, Crassula arborescens, which ASPCA also lists as toxic. This guide covers the common jade plant, Crassula ovata.
Prevention
- Keep jade plants where your pets can't reach them, or in a room they can't get into, especially if your cat chews plants.
- Before you bring a new plant home, look it up in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list.
- If a pet keeps chewing a plant, remove the plant so it can't eat more.
- Check the scientific name on the label (jade plant is Crassula ovata), because common names can mislead. Jade plant is sometimes called "money tree" or "friendship tree", but ASPCA uses "money tree" for Pachira aquatica and "friendship plant" for Pilea involucrata, two different plants it lists as non-toxic.
Good to know
Clinical signs are usually mild and self-resolving.
Common questions
Is a jade plant poisonous to cats?
Yes, ASPCA lists jade plant as toxic to cats. Most cats only get an upset stomach, with vomiting or diarrhea, though some become tired or wobbly. ASPCA says cats seem more sensitive than dogs, but severe signs are rare.
Is a jade plant poisonous to dogs?
Yes. ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs, and its 2019 houseplant article puts it among moderately toxic plants. Even so, most exposures cause only mild vomiting or diarrhea. Less often, a dog becomes tired or unsteady, and tremors or a fast heart rate are rare.
My pet ate a jade plant leaf. What should I do?
Move the plant out of reach and call your vet or a pet poison line for advice. In the US, you can call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Don't make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to. Signs are usually mild and clear up on their own, but your pet should see a vet if they don't go away.
Can a jade plant kill a cat or dog?
Serious poisoning seems uncommon. Pet Poison Helpline says jade plant usually causes no more than a mild stomach upset that goes away on its own, and ASPCA says more severe signs are rare. None of the sources we reviewed describe deaths. Still, a pet that is very wobbly, trembling or has a racing heart should see a vet straight away.
Is a money tree the same as a jade plant, and is it safe for pets?
The names overlap, but they can mean different plants. Jade plant is sometimes called money plant, money tree or friendship tree. ASPCA, however, uses "money tree" for Pachira aquatica and "friendship plant" for Pilea involucrata, two different plants it lists as non-toxic. Check the scientific name: jade plant is Crassula ovata, also listed as Crassula argentea.
What part of the jade plant is toxic, and what is the toxin?
The toxin isn't known: ASPCA lists the toxic substance as unknown. ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline describe the risk as eating the plant and don't single out one part as more dangerous.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Jade Plant (Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database)
- ASPCA — Is That Houseplant Safe for Your Pets? (2019)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Chinese Jade (Crassula arborescens)
- Pet Poison Helpline — Jade Plant
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Crassula ovata
- Pet Poison Helpline
This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.
