Okra

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

Origin: Tropical areas of Africa and Asia

Warm-season annual

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible

Edible parts

immature seed pod

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

typically cooked (boiled, fried, roasted, or pickled); handling raw pods can irritate skin due to surface hairs, per NC State Extension

Hazard type

contact irritant (pod surface hairs, not a toxicity/poisoning hazard)

Hazard route

skin contact (handling), not ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No pet-safety verdict is given, since no ASPCA source addresses this species. Separately, NC State Extension notes the seed pods' surface hairs are a contact irritant for humans (tagged 'contact dermatitis' in the source): gloves are recommended when handling pods. This is a mechanical/contact-irritant note, not a toxicity finding, and is distinct from the pet-toxicity verdict above.

Patent / trademark

not applicable

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: Warm-season annual everywhere; heat-loving.
Water needs: moist, well-drained soil
Mature size: 3-5 ft tall and wide; erect, multi-branched annual.
Family: Malvaceae (mallow family)

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

How we choose sources

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