It’s toxic plant Monday again and time to take a look at another of the more beautiful but wicked members of the plant world. Today it’s the lovely and brightly colored Bird of Paradise, another beautiful flower for a Monday.
A Little About Bird of Paradise
Casesalpinia pulcherrima is Bird of Paradise, also called Pride of Barbados & Mexican Bird of Paradise. This is a shrub or small tree with alternately growing leaves, yellow/orange/red flowers with a red stamen that grow in clusters and elongated seed pods.
How Dangerous Is It?
Generally horses will find Bird of Paradise unpalatable and toxicity is mild so it is only really a concern during drought conditions.
Seeds are the toxic part of this plant.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. It takes a lot of Bird of Paradise seeds to make a horse sick, however it can happen. Symptoms generally begin about half an hour after ingestion and include lack of coordination, diarrhea and colic.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Bird of Paradise page to learn more about the plant and while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?
*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.