Is Blue Bird Rose of Sharon toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists blue bird rose of sharon as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. As a cultivar of Hibiscus syriacus, 'Blue Bird' carries the same mild toxicity profile. Ingestion may cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea in dogs and cats. More significant gastrointestinal effects have been reported in horses. Consult a veterinarian if a pet is known to have consumed any part of this plant.

As a cultivar of Hibiscus syriacus, 'Blue Bird' carries the same mild toxicity profile. Ingestion may cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea in dogs and cats. More significant gastrointestinal effects have been reported in horses. Consult a veterinarian if a pet is known to have consumed any part of this plant. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your cat has had access to blue bird rose of sharon.

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your cat's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Blue Bird Rose of Sharon is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full blue bird rose of sharon pet-safety guide for both species.

For a similar look without the risk, see the best cats-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.