Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Jimsonweed Poisonous to Alpacas?

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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

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

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium). Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Datura stramonium
Family
Solanaceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
Thorn apple, Devil's trumpet, thorn-apple, Thorn-apple
Toxic parts
All parts, especially seeds
Toxic compound
Tropane alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine)

Why it matters

A rank-smelling weed of barnyards and disturbed soil. Seeds can contaminate grain and hay.

Signs of jimsonweed poisoning in alpacas

  • Dilated pupils
  • Dry mouth, fast heart rate
  • Reduced gut movement, colic, bloat
  • Restlessness, incoordination

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 jimsonweed

  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

Datura stramonium, known by the common names thornapple, jimsonweed or stink blade, is a poisonous flowering plant in the Daturae tribe of the nightshade family Solanaceae. Its likely origin was in Central America, and it has been introduced in many world regions. It is an aggressive invasive weed in temperate climates and tropical climates across the world. D. stramonium has frequently been employed in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. It has also been used as a hallucinogen, taken entheogenically to cause intense, sacred or occult visions. It is unlikely to become a major drug of abuse owing to effects upon both mind and body frequently perceived as being highly unpleasant, giving rise to a state of profound and long-lasting disorientation or delirium with a potentially fatal outcome. It contains tropane alkaloids which are responsible for the psychoactive effects, and may be severely toxic.From Wikipedia — “Datura stramonium”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 177,162 recorded observations of Datura stramonium L. worldwide, including 15,973 in the United States. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, together with Angel's Trumpet, Tobacco, Bittersweet Nightshade, Black Nightshade, Deadly Nightshade. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is jimsonweed poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — jimsonweed is toxic to alpacas. A rank-smelling weed of barnyards and disturbed soil. Seeds can contaminate grain and hay.
What part of jimsonweed is toxic to alpacas?
All parts, especially seeds.
What are the symptoms of jimsonweed poisoning?
Dilated pupils, dry mouth, fast heart rate, reduced gut movement, colic, bloat and restlessness, incoordination.
Is dried jimsonweed 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 Q30959.