Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Deadly

Is Rosary Pea Poisonous to Alpacas?

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) — a vine. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — rosary pea is highly poisonous. Small amounts can kill.

Keep alpacas completely away from this plant, including clippings and fallen leaves.

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)
Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius). Photo: Len Worthington, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Deadly
Scientific name
Abrus precatorius
Family
Fabaceae
Plant type
Vine
Also known as
rosarypea
Toxic parts
Seeds (when chewed)
Toxic compound
Abrin
Region
Florida and tropics

Why it matters

An invasive vine in Florida and the tropics with glossy red-and-black seeds.

Signs of rosary pea poisoning in alpacas

  • Severe diarrhea
  • Colic
  • Collapse

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 rosary pea

  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

Abrus precatorius, commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is a slender, perennial climber with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges.From Wikipedia — “Abrus precatorius”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

Main range of concern: Florida and tropics. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 16,633 recorded observations of Abrus precatorius L. worldwide, including 3,891 in the United States. It belongs to the Fabaceae family, together with Black Locust, Coffee Senna & Sicklepod, Kentucky Coffeetree, Laburnum, Lupine. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is rosary pea poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — rosary pea is highly poisonous. Small amounts can kill. An invasive vine in Florida and the tropics with glossy red-and-black seeds.
What part of rosary pea is toxic to alpacas?
Seeds (when chewed).
What are the symptoms of rosary pea poisoning?
Severe diarrhea, colic and collapse.
Is dried rosary pea 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 Q190887.