Field ManualAll plants

Yoyote

Cascabela ovata (Cav.) Lippold

Family: Apocynaceae

Pet & Human Safety

Toxic to people and pets

Hazardous parts

seeds (cardenolides), leaves and stems (alkaloids indicated), latex

Preparation

n/a

Hazard type

NC State rates the related Cascabela thevetia (yellow oleander) High severity: all parts are poisonous if eaten, and the sap can cause allergic skin reactions in some people. No page covers this exact species, so this is a caution carried from the related species.

Hazard route

ingestion; skin contact with the sap

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

Pet verdict: toxic. ASPCA index has no Thevetia ovata or Cascabela ovata page. The NC State page for the related yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia) tags it "problem for dogs, cats and horses"; that is a different species and is a whole-genus caution only. Do not treat as pet-safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Other plants with a similar name or look. To tell them apart: Match on the scientific name, Cascabela ovata (Cav.) Lippold (eFloraMex, the UNAM national flora, and Kew WCVP; our catalog key and the UNAM medicinal-plant atlas use the older name Thevetia ovata (Cav.) DC.), not on the common name.. Yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia) is a different species with a similar name and similar danger. On the Celaya list the Spanish name "codo de fraile" belongs to Cascabela thevetioides and "fraile petatillo" to Cascabela thevetia, while eFloraMex also gives "codo de fraile" for this plant (Guerrero, Jalisco). Several of this plant's Spanish names ("venenillo", "veneno") mean "little poison". Check the botanical name.

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: Not checked yet
Water needs: The level is a plain-language reading of the source wording cited. Always finger-test two inches down.
Mature size: APMTM: small tree 2 to 5 m (about 7 to 16 ft) tall

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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