Is Jessamine (Cestrum) poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet now

Jessamine (Cestrum) is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now if your pet has eaten any of it. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

  • Dogs Call a vet now
  • Cats Call a vet now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.
  2. Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
  3. Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
  4. Remove what is left, move the plant out of reach and keep your pet calm.

Don't

  • Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Jessamine is listed as a problem for cats and dogs.[2]

Signs to watch for

  • Seizures
  • Weakness
  • Death
  • Unusually low body temperature
  • Difficulty swallowing
Scientific name
Cestrum
Poisonous parts
bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems

What the experts say

“Problems: Poisonous to Humans, Problem for Cats, Problem for Children, Problem for Dogs, Problem for Horses”

— NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox [2]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Is Jessamine dangerous for cats too?

Yes. Jessamine is listed as a problem for cats as well as dogs.[2]

Which parts of Jessamine are poisonous?

All parts are poisonous, including the bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds and stems.

Sources

  1. Pet Poison Helpline
  2. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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