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  Discussion on Are Holly bushes toxic to horses?
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New Member:
Ggrubb

Posted on Friday, Mar 3, 2006 - 4:08 pm:

Does anyone have any information which would indicate that holly bushes or the red berries that some of them produce are toxic to horses if eaten?

I am thinking of planting a row of them along the back of my property to be used as a screen hedge between me and the new neighborhood going up. I just want to make sure that I won't run into problems down the road if my horses decide to chow down on them.

Thanks in advance!

Grubby
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Mar 3, 2006 - 5:39 pm:

It seems to me I've read that the berries are poisonous, but you can look them up on one of the poisonous plant sites to be sure. Look here under Equine Diseases ->Poisons, Venoms, Poisonous Plants. Also, Colorado State University has a great site.

Why not plant raspberries? They are good to eat and make harder to penetrate barrier.
Member:
Liliana5

Posted on Friday, Mar 3, 2006 - 8:36 pm:

If memory serves me right I believe they are indeed toxic.

Where I live now is hot so no Holly
Member:
Skye

Posted on Friday, Mar 3, 2006 - 9:01 pm:

According to this site from Florida, yes, it is. Here's their list of plants toxic to the GI system. By the way, the site claims their lists are not necessarily complete:

Rosary pea, Precatory bean, Crab=s eye, Prayer bean (Abrus precatorius L.)

$ Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.)

$ Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild.)

$ Fire-on-the-Mountain, Painted Leaf (Euphorbia cyanthopora Murray)

$ Brazilian pepper, Florida holly (Schinus terebinthifolium Raddi)

$ Holly (Ilex spp)

$ Tung, Tung Oil tree (Aleurites fordii)

$ Castorbean (Ricinus communis L.)

$ Chinaberry, Umbrella Tree, White Cedar, Cape Lilac, Pride-of-India (Melia azedarach l.)

$ Ocean myrtle, Saltbush, Eastern Baccharis (Bacharis halimifolia)

$ Australian laurel, Tobira, Mock Orange, Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira (Thunberg) (Aiton)

$ Azaleas and RhododenDrOns (RhododenDrOn spp.)

$ Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.)
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Friday, Mar 3, 2006 - 10:38 pm:

brazilian pepper is different than the christmas holly you see up north with really pointy leaves and sharp... But i have to agree check and then double check many lists... some say yes they are poisounous than some say no they aren't.. its really quite frustrating... and then some are poisonous to horses but not birds. and my goats LOVE brazilian pepper and my horse has been known to eat the leaves, too. and they are all still here... But its on every list as being poisonous... Need to just err on the side of caution... I can't help it, some of this stuff grows wild...
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Mar 4, 2006 - 2:30 pm:

From a horticulture point of view you may want to know that at least in Florida Brazilian Pepper is considered an invasive nuisance plant. Some Counties or jurisdictions will force you to remove it from your private property, whether you planted it or it volunteered. I doubt it is legal to sell it in our State, though there are plant nurseries that ignore those laws. If you fail to remove it according to governmental instruction and their time-table, they will come do it for you and present you with a huge bill and daily fines. The problem is, it chokes out the native vegetation (like Kudzu), which is bad for the local environment and wildlife. For goodness sakes, don't plant it in States where it is illegal or becomes a nuisance.
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Saturday, Mar 4, 2006 - 11:21 pm:

Vicki, my neighbors were just telling me that they couldn't get their CO without removing the Brazilian pepper. I couldn't believe it. But, the buggers are never ending. And my goats devour it daily, and i swear the stuff grows overnight. I'm sending my goats next door to help them remove one that literally has overtaken their entire unused paddock. S. Florida its rampant.

Like Greg, I want to plant some privacy hedges, what would you recommend for use in Florida? Anywhere USA? And friendly to horses? I was thinking bamboo.
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Mar 5, 2006 - 4:21 pm:

Bamboo also becomes invasive, but it is very beautiful. If you are in South Florida I would recommend Coco Plum, Sea grape, Erika Palms, or maybe Sea oats. See if you can find a nursery that deals in "native Florida plants." You will save money and labor with regard to watering, fertilizing and chemicals, while helping the environment and wildlife.
New Member:
Ggrubb

Posted on Monday, Mar 6, 2006 - 10:39 am:

Thank you all for your advice.

Just to clarify, I live in north central Texas so most south Florida plants would freeze in winter. The hedge is to go along my existing fence, so it will serve mostly as a visual barrier, but I thought that the prickly holly would serve as a physical deterrent (mostly for curious people) as well.

Since holly grows well here, I was hoping that it would be just the ticket, The info that I have been able to find is conflicting as to whether or not it would be dangerous for my horses, but I think I will be better safe than sorry and find another alternative.

Thanks again,

Grubby
New Member:
Ggrubb

Posted on Monday, Mar 6, 2006 - 10:42 am:

One more clarification. The holly I was thinking of planting known as;

Common Name: 'Nellie R. Stevens Holly'
Botanical Name: Ilex x. 'Nellie R. Stevens'

Grubby
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Mar 6, 2006 - 5:43 pm:

The Canadian site linked to on the page referenced above explains the mechanism of the poisoning Greg. As to specie and variety ther is no particular specificity, we just assume they all are. For recommendations for the landscaping purpose you have in mind it might be worth contacting your local extension service, usually they have an ornamental expert on staff familiar with what does well in your area, and what might be toxic.
DrO
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