Andromeda Japonica

일본 피에리스는 진달래과 상록 관목으로 좁고 긴 가죽질 잎이 가지 끝에 모여 달립니다.

PLANT 159Google

Toxic to cats

SEVERE

Andromeda Japonica

Pieris japonica · Ericaceae

How it looks

Andromeda japonica is an evergreen shrub in the heath family (Ericaceae), with narrow, long, leathery leaves clustered at the branch tips. In early spring, small white-to-pink bell-shaped flowers hang in clusters at the branch ends. Height 3–10 ft (1–3 m), with new leaves that take on a reddish tint.

Dangerous — heart toxicity

All parts of Andromeda Japonica contain grayanotoxins; even a small amount can trigger vomiting, drooling, and low blood pressure, which may progress to heart arrhythmias and coma.

If ingested

Contact your nearest vet immediately

Onset: 2–6 hours after ingestion
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, coma, heart failure
Action: Go to an animal hospital immediately. Don't wait, even if symptoms seem mild.

Guide for parents

Japanese pieris (andromeda japonica) is a shrub in the rhododendron family, and everything from its leaves and flowers to its nectar contains grayanotoxin. Even a small amount can affect the heart and nervous system, so keep it out of any space you share with your cat.

Telling it apart

The grayanotoxin in Japanese pieris is the same class of toxin found in azaleas and rhododendrons and mountain laurel (Kalmia). Shrubs in the heath family (Ericaceae) share this cardiac toxin regardless of species, so rather than tracking individual names, remember that heath-family shrubs are dangerous across the board.

How cats get exposed

The toxin is in the leaves and flowers, and in the flower nectar as well. It is often planted in gardens or on balconies, so exposure happens when a cat chews fallen flowers and leaves or nibbles a branch. It also leaches into the water holding cut sprigs.

How symptoms progress

Signs usually begin within a few hours with vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling. As grayanotoxin acts on the heart and nerves, pulse and blood pressure drop, and it can progress to arrhythmia, staggering, and coma. Cardiac effects can become obvious late, so don't relax just because early signs look mild.

What to do right now

If there is any chance your cat chewed or swallowed it, get to a 24-hour emergency vet immediately, even if the signs look mild. If you grow it in the garden or on a balcony, keep it entirely separate from your cat's routes and clear fallen flowers and leaves the same day. Do not induce vomiting at home.