Yellow Star Thistle — (c) Kostas Zontanos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kostas Zontanos
Photo by (c) Kostas Zontanos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kostas ZontanosiNaturalistCC BY
Pet safety reference

Yellow Star Thistle

Centaurea solstitialis

Barnaby's Thistle is a hardy, spiny annual plant often found in open fields and meadows. While generally considered non-toxic, its fibrous nature can occasionally cause minor digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Centaurea solstitialisSt. Barnaby's ThistleYellow Star Thistle
Light
Full sun
Habit
Upright, branching annual
Care
Low

Safety status

Cats & 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.

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.

Catsconcern 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.

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

Barnaby's Thistle is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

NC State Extension Plant Toolbox

botanical · 94% reliability

Open source

Centaurea solstitialis is an annual plant in the Asteraceae family, commonly known as yellow star thistle.

cats safety pagedogs safety page

Often compared with

Same safety verdict

Other plants with the same verdict

Same growing conditions

Plants for the same room