Boston Ivy Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 2 min read| 1,424 found this helpful

All plant parts, particularly berries, are toxic, containing calcium oxalate and oxalic acid crystals

It poses low toxicity risk to humans, cats, dogs, and horses, but is severely toxic to birds

Ingestion can lead to oral/throat irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and breathing difficulty in sensitive cases

FAQ

Is Boston Ivy toxic to Humans?

Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing (pharyngeal edema), and difficulty swallowing (laryngeal edema) (Low)

Is Boston Ivy toxic to Cats?

Mild oral irritation, excessive salivation, and occasional soft stool or vomiting if large amounts are ingested (Low)

Is Boston Ivy toxic to Dogs?

Mild oral irritation, excessive salivation, and occasional soft stool or vomiting if large amounts are ingested (Low)

Is Boston Ivy toxic to Horses?

Mild oral and gastrointestinal irritation, salivation, and loose stool if significant quantities are consumed (Low)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Low

Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing (pharyngeal edema), and difficulty swallowing (laryngeal edema)

Cats

Low

Mild oral irritation, excessive salivation, and occasional soft stool or vomiting if large amounts are ingested

Dogs

Low

Mild oral irritation, excessive salivation, and occasional soft stool or vomiting if large amounts are ingested

Horses

Low

Mild oral and gastrointestinal irritation, salivation, and loose stool if significant quantities are consumed

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsAll plant parts, especially the berries

Exposure RoutePrimary exposure route is ingestion; skin contact may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals

Toxic CompoundsCalcium oxalate; Oxalic acid

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Rinse the mouth thoroughly with clean cold water immediately after ingestion to flush out residual oxalate crystals
• Offer small sips of milk or water to soothe irritated oral and throat mucosal membranes
• Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly directed by a medical professional or veterinarian

Contact Vet Immediately

• If you observe signs of breathing difficulty, severe throat swelling, or persistent inability to swallow
• If vomiting, diarrhea, or oral pain lasts more than 2 hours post-exposure
• If a large quantity of plant material or berries was ingested by a child, pet, or livestock animal

Prevention

• Keep potted or planted Boston Ivy out of reach of young children, pets, and pet birds
• Educate household members to avoid consuming any part of this ornamental vine, including its berries
• Wear protective gloves when pruning the vine to reduce risk of mild skin irritation from plant sap

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform appropriate decontamination, including activated charcoal administration if ingestion occurred within 1 hour
• Administer mucosal protectants to soothe irritated upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract linings
• Provide analgesics for pain control and antihistamines for swelling if clinically indicated, under provider supervision

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameParthenocissus tricuspidata (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch.; Parthenocissus veitchii (Carrière) Graebn.

AliasesJapanese creeper、Grape ivy、Japanese ivy、Woodbine

Toxicity Grade

HumansLow

CatsLow

DogsLow

HorsesLow

Target Organs

Oral mucosaPharynxLarynxGastrointestinal tract

Mechanism of Action

• Insoluble oxalate crystals cause mechanical irritation to the mucosal membranes of the mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract

• Irritation leads to localized edema, which can impair swallowing and breathing function in severe cases

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Birds: Severe (+++) toxicity, ingestion of even small amounts of berries can lead to fatal poisoning

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Common Grape Vine Vitis vinifera

Visually similar due to shared vining growth habit and berry-like fruit; key difference: common grape produces edible fruit, while Boston ivy berries are toxic, and grape leaves typically have deeper, more consistent lobing

Other Parthenocissus species Parthenocissus spp.

Nearly identical vining growth and leaf shape across the genus; toxicity levels vary slightly between species, so all Parthenocissus vines should be treated as potentially toxic

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Related Toxic Plants

Common Grape

Vitis vinifera

High toxicity for dogs, low toxicity for humans

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

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Data Sources

1. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

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