Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Kalanchoe Poisonous to Alpacas?

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.) — a houseplant. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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

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

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.)
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.). Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Kalanchoe spp.
Family
Crassulaceae
Plant type
Houseplant
Also known as
Mother of millions, widow's-thrill
Toxic parts
All parts
Toxic compound
Bufadienolide cardiac glycosides

Why it matters

Common succulent houseplant; also naturalized in warm regions.

Signs of kalanchoe poisoning in alpacas

  • Sudden death (often the first sign)
  • Slow, irregular or very fast heartbeat
  • Weakness, trembling, collapse
  • Diarrhea and colic
  • Cold extremities

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 kalanchoe

  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

Kalanchoe, , is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, mainly native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. A Kalanchoe species was one of the first plants to be sent into space, sent on a resupply to the Soviet Salyut 6 space station in 1979.From Wikipedia — “Kalanchoe”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 63,007 recorded observations of Kalanchoe Adans. worldwide, including 4,757 in the United States. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is kalanchoe poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — kalanchoe is toxic to alpacas. Common succulent houseplant; also naturalized in warm regions.
What part of kalanchoe is toxic to alpacas?
All parts.
What are the symptoms of kalanchoe poisoning?
Sudden death (often the first sign), slow, irregular or very fast heartbeat, weakness, trembling, collapse, diarrhea and colic and cold extremities.
Is dried kalanchoe 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 Q312063.