Yellowrocket — (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
Photo by (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas GoldmaniNaturalistCC BY-SA
dog safety reference

Is Yellowrocket safe for dogs?

Barbarea vulgaris

Yellowrocket is a hardy, flowering biennial herb often found in fields and gardens. While it is considered non-toxic to pets, ingestion of large amounts of fibrous plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset.

Barbarea vulgarisBittercressHerb BarbaraWinter Cress
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Habit
Rosette-forming biennial
Care
Low

Safety status

Dogs

Uncertain

Identity or evidence quality is not strong enough for a firm answer.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your dog

Dogs are not the species at risk from Yellowrocket — ASPCA classifies Barbarea vulgaris as non-toxic to dogs. The isothiocyanate-driven gut and colic signs documented in the source are horse-specific; for a dog that grabs a mouthful in a meadow, the worst likely outcome is a brief, self-limited stomach upset from the bitter mustard taste.

Sources: ASPCA.

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Dogsconcern notes

Common signs

Under review — original classification flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification.

Escalation note

Under review — original classification flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Yellowrocket is listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

NC State Extension Plant Toolbox

botanical · 94% reliability

Open source

Barbarea vulgaris is a biennial herb in the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as yellowrocket or winter cress.

Cats & dogs pagecats page

Questions about Yellowrocket

Is Yellowrocket (Barbarea vulgaris) toxic to dogs?

The safety of Yellowrocket for dogs is currently uncertain — the plant's classification is under review and has been flagged as a likely labeling error pending curator verification. Until the status is confirmed, treat it as a plant to keep away from your dog.

What symptoms should I watch for if my dog ate Yellowrocket?

Documented symptoms are not available for Yellowrocket at this time, as the classification is under active review. If your dog has eaten this plant, monitor for common signs of GI upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or lethargy, and contact your vet if any appear.

What should I do if my dog eats Yellowrocket?

Because Yellowrocket's toxicity status is currently unverified, err on the side of caution: note how much your dog ate, watch closely for any vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual behavior, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for guidance.

How reliable is the current safety information on Yellowrocket for dogs?

The existing classification data for Yellowrocket was flagged during a provenance audit on 2026-05-06 as a likely labeler error, so the confidence in its current status is low (0.4 out of 1.0). The classification is pending curator verification, meaning the plant's risk level for dogs has not yet been confirmed from a reliable source.

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