Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Laburnum Poisonous to Alpacas?

Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) — a tree. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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

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

Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides)
Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides). Photo: Enrico Blasutto, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Laburnum anagyroides
Family
Fabaceae
Plant type
Tree
Also known as
Golden chain tree, Golden rain, Common Laburnum
Toxic parts
All parts, especially seeds and pods
Toxic compound
Cytisine

Why it matters

Also called golden chain tree; widely planted in Europe.

Signs of laburnum poisoning in alpacas

  • Excitement then incoordination
  • Sweating, convulsions
  • Coma and death in large doses

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 laburnum

  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

Laburnum anagyroides, the common laburnum, golden chain or golden rain, is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Faboideae, and genus Laburnum. Laburnum alpinum is closely related. It is native to central and southern Europe.From Wikipedia — “Laburnum anagyroides”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 70,593 recorded observations of Laburnum anagyroides Medik. worldwide, including 373 in the United States. It belongs to the Fabaceae family, together with Rosary Pea, Black Locust, Coffee Senna & Sicklepod, Kentucky Coffeetree, Lupine. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is laburnum poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — laburnum is toxic to alpacas. Also called golden chain tree; widely planted in Europe.
What part of laburnum is toxic to alpacas?
All parts, especially seeds and pods.
What are the symptoms of laburnum poisoning?
Excitement then incoordination, sweating, convulsions and coma and death in large doses.
Is dried laburnum 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 Q147939.