Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Monday - November 05, 2012
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Is horseherb toxic to chickens in Austin, TX?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
My yard is almost completely horseherb (straggler daisy, calyptocarpus vialis) and I am hoping you can tell me if this is safe for chickens to eat? As common as it is here, there is nothing I could find regarding toxicity anywhere in my research- I've looked and looked. Thank you so muchANSWER:
Whenever we get questions about toxic plants, we go to several toxic plant databases to check out the plants. I’ve listed some of these below.
Toxic Plants of Texas
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock
You’ll probably notice that these are mostly concerned with plants toxic to humans, dog, cats, horses, cows and perhaps goats.
After some further searching, I found several sites (listed below) that have information about plants toxic to chickens.
Backyard Chickens
poisonous plants
Chickens.wikia.com
Plants Toxic to Chickens
Omlet
list of plants harmful to chickens
The general idea seems to be that while chickens will eat most anything, they tend to avoid that which is harmful. Although Horse herb Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy) isn’t listed as being toxic in any of the publications above, one might infer that it is non-toxic. That doesn’t completely assure that it isn’t toxic, but it increases the probability that it is non-toxic
Since you have a yard full of horse herb, I’m including some links that will tell you more about this plant.
Previous Smarty Plants Answer
Greatstems.com
From the Image Gallery
More Poisonous Plants Questions
Are wild cherry trees poisonous for horses?
October 31, 2010 - I have just purchased a pony and have been told that wild cherry trees could cause harm or even kill her. Is this true and where can I go to get a list of all the poisonous plants, shrubs and trees fo...
view the full question and answer
Cutting back non-native oleanders affected by freeze in Austin
January 30, 2010 - After the last hard freeze makes my oleanders look dead. Can I cut them down to the ground this time of year?
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for Orange County, Florida
April 14, 2012 - I live in Central FL (Winter Park)and I have a small, mostly sunny (no trees) backyard next to a large in-ground swimming pool which fills up with the leaves of my neighbor's oak trees. The backyard ...
view the full question and answer
Shrubs that non-toxic to horses but that they won't eat
October 29, 2011 - I am looking for a low maintenance, low water, green shrub that horses won't eat and will not be toxic to them. I want to hide my neighbors corral and keep down dust on my side. The horses have "l...
view the full question and answer
Plants referred to as Hummingbird plants
August 22, 2008 - We have a a plant that is sometimes called a Hummingbird Plant, sometimes a Firecracker plant. I have also seen the name lonicera sempervirens. Are they poisonous? This is a plant, not a vine.
T...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |