Chinese peony Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 2 min read| 2,281 found this helpful
Chinese peony
1

The entire plant is weakly toxic, with the highest risk linked to ingestion of flowers and seeds

2

Primary adverse effect of consumption is irritation of the gastrointestinal tract

3

Standard treatment consists of decontamination followed by targeted symptomatic care

FAQ

Is Chinese peony toxic to Humans?

Gastrointestinal tract irritation including nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea after ingestion of flowers or seeds (Low)

Is Chinese peony toxic to Cats?

No specific toxicity data documented; mild gastrointestinal irritation is possible if large amounts are ingested (Unknown)

Is Chinese peony toxic to Dogs?

No specific toxicity data documented; mild gastrointestinal irritation is possible if large amounts are ingested (Unknown)

Is Chinese peony toxic to Horses?

No specific toxicity data documented; mild gastrointestinal irritation is possible if large amounts are ingested (Unknown)

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Toxicity Details

Humans
Low

Gastrointestinal tract irritation including nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea after ingestion of flowers or seeds

Cats
Unknown

No specific toxicity data documented; mild gastrointestinal irritation is possible if large amounts are ingested

Dogs
Unknown

No specific toxicity data documented; mild gastrointestinal irritation is possible if large amounts are ingested

Horses
Unknown

No specific toxicity data documented; mild gastrointestinal irritation is possible if large amounts are ingested

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsEntire plant
Exposure RouteIngestion (primary exposure route); skin contact may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals
Toxic CompoundsPalbinon; Peonin; Albiflorin R1; Benzoylpaeoniflorin; 8-Debenzoylpaeoniflorin; Lactiflorin; Oxypaeoniflorin; Paeonidanin A-E; Paeoniflorigenon; Paeoniflorin; Paeonilacton A-C; Pyrethrin I; Pyrethrin II; Casuariin; Casuarictin; 5-Desgalloylstachyurin; Gallic acid

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

  • • Rinse mouth thoroughly with clean water if plant material was ingested
  • • Remove any remaining plant fragments from skin or fur if contact occurred
  • • Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly advised by a medical or veterinary professional

Contact Vet Immediately

  • • If persistent vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain develops after ingestion
  • • If a large quantity of the plant was consumed by pets or grazing livestock
  • • If signs of allergic reaction (rash, swelling, breathing difficulty) appear post-exposure

Prevention

  • • Keep the plant out of reach of young children, pets, and grazing livestock
  • • Wear gloves when handling large quantities of the plant to avoid skin irritation
  • • Do not consume any part of the plant unless prepared for medicinal use by qualified professionals

Treatment & Prognosis

  • • Gastric decontamination (e.g. activated charcoal administration) as medically appropriate
  • • Symptomatic care including fluid replacement and anti-emetics for gastrointestinal irritation
  • • 24-48 hour monitoring for development of adverse reactions post-exposure
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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NamePaeonia lactiflora Pall.; Paeonia albiflora Pall.; Paeonia edulis Salisb.
AliasesCommon garden peony、White peony
Toxicity Grade
HumansLow
CatsUnknown
DogsUnknown
HorsesUnknown
Target Organs
Gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small and large intestines)
Mechanism of Action

• Irritant bioactive compounds in the plant trigger inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal mucosa after ingestion

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle, sheep and goats: May experience mild gastrointestinal irritation if large quantities of the plant are grazed
Small companion mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs): Potential for mild gastrointestinal upset if significant amounts of plant material are ingested
Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Other peony species Paeonia spp.
Other Paeonia species have very similar morphological features to Paeonia lactiflora and are also low/weakly toxic, making visual differentiation difficult for non-experts.
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Related Toxic Plants

Common peony
Common peony
Paeonia officinalis
Low toxicity
Tree peony
Tree peony
Paeonia suffruticosa
Low toxicity
California peony
Paeonia californica
Low to moderate toxicity

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Data Sources

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.

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