Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_33.gif)
Tuesday - June 16, 2009
From: Independence, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: Are variegated ginger plants poisonous to cats?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
Is a variegated ginger plant poisonous to cats?ANSWER:
Variegated ginger, Alpinia zerumbet is a native of India, and is widely used in the U.S. as an ornamental. None of the sources that I have found list variegated ginger as being toxic for cats.
I'm providing links for several database that you may also check. To search the lists, I recommend using scientific names (e.g. Alpinia zerumbet) since those names are generally standard, whereas the common names often vary in spelling and usage. You can also check the names of your other plants to see if they might be harmful to cats.
Please note that the absence of of a plant name from these lists does not guarantee that it is non-toxic to cats, but not finding it on the lists makes it less likely to be toxic.
Universtiy of Pennsylvania's Poisonous Plants Database
Cornell University's Plants Poisonous to Livestock and other Animals
More Poisonous Plants Questions
Are palm tree seeds toxic?
July 08, 2011 - Are palm tree seeds toxic to other plants? I have palm trees around my pool and it seems that nothing will grow very good where the old seeds are in the ground.
view the full question and answer
Urushiol Oil Persistance?
September 09, 2015 - I'm trekking into poison ivy infested areas for work every other day. I make sure to wear long pants, long sleeves, boots, and long socks over my pants. I walk into my office to drop off supplies and...
view the full question and answer
Bugbane Leaf Blotch
January 24, 2013 - My bugbanes (Cimicifuga/Actaea) seem to suffer from black blotches on the leaves in the summer. This happens even when they have adequate moisture. I also see it on the ones growing wild. Is this a fu...
view the full question and answer
Controlling Cnidoscolus texanus (Texas bullnettle)
July 18, 2013 - Hello,I need your help to control some nasty weeds in my yard/pasture. I am an old timer and do not have a picture to include—haven't figured out that part of the camera/phone yet. This weed is a pri...
view the full question and answer
Vines non-poisonous to dogs from Madison WI
June 09, 2013 - Are there any vines or crawlers that are non poisonous to dogs? Everything I am finding is poisonous, I want to plant some vines up a fence on their kennel run.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |