Ilex spp.

Ilex spp. is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is mild. Also known as Hollies, American Holly and European Holly.

dogs cats horses

Mild Moderate Severe Critical

If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian now, or one of these services.

What do I do right now?
  • Australia
    Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 24 hours, every day · From $75
  • Austria
    Vergiftungsinformationszentrale 01 406 43 43 24 hours, every day
  • Belgium
    Centre Antipoisons 070 245 245 08:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, 10:00 to 22:00 at weekends · Human calls come first. The centre has no funding for animal work.
  • Canada
    Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 24 hours, every day · $89 for each incident
  • France
    Centre National d'Informations Toxicologiques Vétérinaires 04 78 87 10 40 08:30 to midnight, every day
  • Germany
    Giftinformationszentrum Bonn 0228 19240 24 hours, every day · Germany has no dedicated animal service. Human calls come first, so an animal call can wait.
  • Ireland

    Ireland has no animal poison service for owners. Call your veterinarian. An Irish veterinarian can consult the Veterinary Poisons Information Service in the United Kingdom.

  • Italy
    Centro Antiveleni di Milano 02 6610 1029 24 hours, every day
  • Netherlands
    Nationaal Vergiftigingen Informatie Centrum 088 755 8000 Veterinarians only 24 hours, every day · Call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian calls this line.
  • New Zealand
    Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 24 hours, every day
  • Sweden

    Giftinformationscentralen stopped answering questions about animals on 1 July 2018. Call your veterinarian or an animal hospital.

  • Switzerland
    Tox Info Suisse 145 24 hours, every day · From outside Switzerland, call +41 44 251 51 51.
  • United Kingdom
    Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 24 hours, every day · £35 from 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday, £45 at other times
    Veterinary Poisons Information Service 020 7305 5055 Veterinarians only 24 hours, every day · A members only service. Your veterinarian calls this line.
  • United States
    ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 24 hours, every day · A consultation fee applies
    Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 24 hours, every day · $89 for each incident

Symptoms to watch for

Vomiting Diarrhea Depression

The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.

About

Ilex or holly is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. Ilex has the most species of any woody dioecious angiosperm genus. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. The type species is Ilex aquifolium, the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards.

How this plant poisons

Holly can contain caffeic acid, caffeoyl derivatives, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, quinic acid, kaempferol, tannins, rutin, caffeine, theobromine, and ilicin. Holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea. They are especially dangerous in cases involving accidental consumption by children attracted to the bright red berries. Ingestion of over 20 berries may be fatal to children. Holly leaves, if eaten, might cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach and intestinal problems. Holly plants might be toxic to pets and livestock.

Common Names

  • Hollies
  • American Holly
  • European Holly
  • Ilex Oaks
  • Evergreen Oak
  • Winterberry Holly
  • Yaupon Holly
  • Possumhaw
  • Chinese Holly
  • Holm Oak
  • Gallberry
  • Mountain Holly
  • Dahoon Holly
  • Japanese Holly
  • Sweet Acorn Oak
  • Rough-Leaved Holly
  • Large Gallberry
  • Mountain Winterberry
  • Blue Holly
  • Kurogane Holly
  • Carolina Holly
  • Cape Holly
  • Downy Holly
  • Myrtle Dahoon
  • Kāwaʻu
  • Small-Leaved Holly
  • Highclere Holly

Also recorded as Holly.

Facts

Family
AquifoliaceaeDC. ex A.Rich.
Duration
Perennial
Growth habit
Shrub, Tree
In the wild
GB, FR, US, NL, CN, BR + more
Source
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.