Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - September 20, 2012

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: Plants toxic to horses in Travis County, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

What plants/weeds are toxic for horses in Travis County?

ANSWER:

It would take a lot of space and a lot of time for me to list every plant with possible toxicity for horses in Travis County, but I can list some that are especially bad for horses or that are more abundant.  

First of all, here is an article from Equisearch with a list of the 10 Most Poisonous Plants for Horses.  Not all of those plants are common in Travis County or, when found, are not abundant. Here are the ones from that list that have been found there:

Conium maculatum (Poison hemlock), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

Sorghum halapense (Johnson grass), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum milkvetch), Astragalus distortus (Ozark milkvetch), Astragalus lotiflorus (Lotus milkvetch), Astragalus nuttallianus (Nuttall's milkvetch), Astragalus plattensis (Platte river milkvetch), Astragalus pleianthus (Edwards plateau milkvetch), Astragalus wrightii (Wright's milkvetch) and Oxytropis lambertii (Purple locoweed).  All native.  Here is more information about Oxytropis lambertii (Purple locoweed).  Some of these are rare or don't occur in great abundance.

Nerium oleander (Oleander), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

Centaurea melitensis (Maltese star-thistle), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

Cicuta maculata (Spotted water hemlock), native.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

The ASPCA has a list, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants—Horses, that you should look through.  Not all those plants occur in Travis County or even in Texas.  You may see some names that you recognize, however.  [Note that the first part of the list is for "Plants Toxic to Horses" and the last part of the list is for "Plants Non-Toxic to Horses".]  Here are some that are on the list that do occur in Travis County:

Juglans nigra (Black walnut), native.  Here is more information from Pennsylvania Poisonous Plants Database.

Aesculus pavia (Scarlet buckeye), native.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

Hedera helix (English ivy), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Poisonous Plants of North Carolina.

Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Poisonous Plants of North Carolina.

Melia azedarach (Chinaberry), a non-native introduction.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.

Prunus spp. (Includes plums cherries, chokecherries, peaches, apricots, etc.), some native and some introduced non-natives.  Here is more information from Plants of Texas Rangelands.  There are domestic Prunus spp. (plums, peaches, etc.) but there are also native species that occur in Travis County:

Prunus caroliniana (Cherry laurel)

Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum)

Prunus minutiflora (Dwarf plum)

Prunus rivularis (Creek plum)

Prunus serotina (Black cherry)

This is an extensive list; but it isn't all plants that have some toxicity that your horse might encounter.  You should look through the list from the ASPCA and in Toxic Plants of Texas from Texas A & M AgriLife Extension for plants that might occur where you are pasturing your horses.  You can determine if they have been reported as occurring in Travis County by entering their scientific name (be sure it is spelled correctly) in the USDA Plants Database "Name Search" slot.  When you reach the species page, click on Texas on the distribution map to see the county distribution for the species.

 

 

More Poisonous Plants Questions

Campsis radicans or cow itch
April 03, 2008 - We cleaned my father-in-law's home-place up out in the country week-before-last. My wife, her 2 sisters and a niece have this unusual-looking poison on them. It is big red places and itches all ove...
view the full question and answer

Identity of poisonous thorn bush in Montgomery Texas
May 29, 2012 - What is the name of a poisonous thorn bush in Montgomery Texas?
view the full question and answer

Is arborvitate (Thuja sp.) safe for horses
May 16, 2010 - Is arborvitae poisonous to horses? I want to plant it along the horse pasture. If it is poisonous, what are similar plants that are not poisonous to horses?
view the full question and answer

hummingbird attractants
May 03, 2012 - I live in Baytown, Texas and am looking for a variety of plants that attract Hummingbirds, but are also pet friendly. I have two dogs, so this is a major concern. I am putting the plants in my backyar...
view the full question and answer

Privacy shrubs and trees that are safe for horses in California
June 16, 2012 - What type of privacy shrubs/trees can I plant that are safe around horses? I live in the central valley in CA. Thank you!
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.