Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Kochia?

Kochia (Bassia scoparia) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Kochia (Bassia scoparia)
Kochia (Bassia scoparia). Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Bassia scoparia
Family
Amaranthaceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
Fireweed (western), Summer cypress, Mexican-Fireweed, burningbush
Toxic parts
Whole plant in quantity, especially later in the season
Toxic compound
Nitrates, oxalates, sulfates, saponins

Why it matters

A drought-tolerant weed used as emergency forage in dry regions. Limit it to a portion of the diet.

Signs of kochia poisoning in alpacas

  • Photosensitization
  • Liver damage
  • Polioencephalomalacia (blindness, star-gazing) from sulfate

If your alpaca ate a lot of kochia

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Bassia scoparia is a large annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae native to Eurasia. It has been introduced to many parts of North America, where it is found in grassland, prairie, and desert shrub ecosystems. Its common names include summer cypress, mock-cypress, kochia, belvedere, World's Fair plant, burningbush, Mexican firebrush, and Mexican fireweed, with the latter three names referring to the herb's red autumn foliage.From Wikipedia — “Bassia scoparia”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 25,990 recorded observations of Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J.Scott worldwide, including 7,036 in the United States. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, together with Halogeton, Lamb's Quarters, Redroot Pigweed. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is kochia poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. A drought-tolerant weed used as emergency forage in dry regions. Limit it to a portion of the diet.
What part of kochia is toxic to alpacas?
Whole plant in quantity, especially later in the season.
What are the symptoms of kochia poisoning?
Photosensitization, liver damage and polioencephalomalacia (blindness, star-gazing) from sulfate.
Is dried kochia 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 Q829752.