Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Halogeton Poisonous to Alpacas?

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — halogeton is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus)
Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus). Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Halogeton glomeratus
Family
Amaranthaceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
saltlover
Toxic parts
Whole plant
Toxic compound
Soluble oxalates
Region
Great Basin

Why it matters

A Great Basin rangeland weed; hungry animals moved onto dense stands are most at risk.

Signs of halogeton poisoning in alpacas

  • Weakness, trembling, low blood calcium
  • Depression and lying down
  • Kidney damage (reduced urination)
  • Death after large meals in hungry animals

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 halogeton

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. 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

Halogeton glomeratus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names saltlover, Aral barilla, and halogeton. It is native to Russia, Central Asia and China, but the plant is probably better known in the western United States, where it is an introduced species and a notorious noxious weed. This annual herb is a hardy halophyte, thriving in soils far too saline to support many other plants. It also grows in alkali soils such as those on alkali flats and disturbed, barren habitat. It can be found in sagebrush and shadscale habitat, and it grows well in areas with cold winters.From Wikipedia — “Halogeton glomeratus”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

Main range of concern: Great Basin. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 6,646 recorded observations of Halogeton glomeratus (M.Bieb.) C.A.Mey. worldwide, including 5,655 in the United States. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, together with Kochia, Lamb's Quarters, Redroot Pigweed. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is halogeton poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — halogeton is toxic to alpacas. A Great Basin rangeland weed; hungry animals moved onto dense stands are most at risk.
What part of halogeton is toxic to alpacas?
Whole plant.
What are the symptoms of halogeton poisoning?
Weakness, trembling, low blood calcium, depression and lying down, kidney damage (reduced urination) and death after large meals in hungry animals.
Is dried halogeton safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

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 Q15709475.