Yes — chinaberry is toxic to alpacas.
Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.
- Status
- Toxic
- Scientific name
- Melia azedarach
- Family
- Meliaceae
- Plant type
- Tree
- Also known as
- Texas umbrella tree, paraiso, lelah, Indian lilac, Chinaberrytree, Chinaberry tree
- Toxic parts
- Ripe berries especially; bark and leaves
- Toxic compound
- Meliatoxins (limonoids)
- Region
- Southern U.S.
Why it matters
Naturalized ornamental tree in the southern U.S.
Signs of chinaberry poisoning in alpacas
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Colic or abdominal discomfort
- Weakness, staggering
- Seizures
Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.
What to do if your alpaca ate chinaberry
- Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
- Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
- Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
- Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
- Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
- Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).
Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.
About the plant
Where it grows
Main range of concern: Southern U.S.. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 69,232 recorded observations of Melia azedarach L. worldwide, including 19,587 in the United States. It belongs to the Meliaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.
Frequently asked questions
Is chinaberry poisonous to alpacas?
What part of chinaberry is toxic to alpacas?
What are the symptoms of chinaberry poisoning?
Is dried chinaberry safe?
Keeping pastures safe
- Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
- Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
- Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
- Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
- Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.
Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.
Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q162171.