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❧ Pet Safe Plants

English Yew

Not listed does not mean safe.

English Yew — Taxus baccata

Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · shows: Taxus baccata

Taxus baccata

Also known as: Western Yew, Pacific Yew, Japanese Yew, Anglo-Japanese Yew

Family: Taxaceae · ASPCA plant record

Verdict at a glance

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Evidence by animal

Sourced plant verdicts — read the original wording and scope
AnimalVerdictBasisPlant partsSourcesEvidence link
Companion mammals
CatsCats: ⚠ ToxicNot specifiedevidence
DogsDogs: ⚠ ToxicNot specifiedevidence
Horses & livestock
HorsesHorses: ⚠ ToxicNot specifiedevidence
Birds
Pet birds (general)Pet birds (general): ! CautionAAV: genus-level, shown as caution; Frontiers 2025 review: different species or genus-level, shown as cautionNot specifiedevidence
Budgerigars (budgies)Budgerigars (budgies): ! CautionPeer-reviewed experiment (PMID 1577644)fresh plant material (powdered)evidence
CanariesCanaries: ! CautionPeer-reviewed experiment, yew species not named (PMID 1601714)leaves
Arai et al. 1992 Peer-reviewed
evidence

Source excerpts

ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Cats, Dogs, Horses

poison-control

Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Source checked 2026-10-27

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Association of Avian Veterinarians — Protecting Your Pet Birds From Household Dangers — Pet birds (general)

veterinary-reference

AAV: genus-level, shown as caution · AAV leaflet "Protecting Your Pet Birds From Household Dangers" (the list "is not exhaustive"). The source names only the genus (Taxus), not Taxus baccata specifically, so this is shown as caution.

Plants known to cause damage to the heart include oleander, yew, lily of the valley, and foxgloves.

Source checked 2026-10-27

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Avian toxicoses: a review (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025) — Pet birds (general)

peer-reviewed

Frontiers 2025 review: different species or genus-level, shown as caution · Review section "Toxic plants (miscellaneous)" on pet birds. The source names Taxus media (a different species or only the genus), not Taxus baccata, so this is shown as caution.

Many ornamental plants are toxic, such as Coronilla varia, Ericaceae family (for example Rhododendron spp.), Kalanchoe spp., Nerium oleander, Taxus media, Digitalis purpurea, and Euphorbia pulcherima (81).

Source checked 2026-10-27

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Evaluation of selected plants for acute toxicosis in budgerigars — Budgerigars (budgies)

peer-reviewed

Peer-reviewed experiment (PMID 1577644) · fresh plant material (powdered) · Pairs of budgerigars were given powdered fresh plant material by gavage; of 19 plants tested only 6 induced clinical signs of illness. The abstract does not name the other 13 plants, so it supports no safe/non-toxic claim for any plant. The species tested was Taxus media (a yew hybrid), not English yew (Taxus baccata), so this is shown as caution, not toxic.

Of the 19 plants tested, only 6 induced clinical signs of illness; these plants included yew, oleander, clematis, avocado, black locust, and Virginia creeper (Taxus media, Nerium oleander, Clematis sp, Persea americana, Robinia pseudoacacia, Parthenocissus quinquefolio).

Source checked 2026-10-27

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Evaluation of selected plants for their toxic effects in canaries — Canaries

peer-reviewed

Peer-reviewed experiment, yew species not named (PMID 1601714) · leaves · The abstract says 'yew leaves' without a species, so we do not assume it was English yew (Taxus baccata); shown as caution, not toxic.

Of the plants tested, 5 (oleander, lupine, foxglove, yew leaves, and dieffenbachia) were considered highly toxic and were associated with acute death of birds.

Source checked 2026-10-27

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No evidence collected in this database yet for 17 animals

No evidence collected in this database yet for: Rabbits, Guinea pigs, Hamsters, Rats, Mice, Chinchillas, Ferrets, Parrots (macaws, Amazons, African greys…), Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Finches, Pigeons & doves, Tortoises, Bearded dragons, Iguanas, Goats, Chickens & other poultry

No supported claim has been collected for these animals. Not listed does not mean safe; do not infer suitability from another species.

Toxic principles

ASPCA, as published: Taxine A and B, Volatile oil Source

Clinical signs

ASPCA, as published: Tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures (dogs), sudden death from acute heart failure. Source

More from veterinary sources

Last verified (ASPCA record): 2026-10-27. Source access dates and limitations.