Rosary Pea
Abrus precatorius
Last reviewed: October 2026
Rosary Pea is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
120"–360" H × 24"–120" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Native alternatives to Rosary Pea
Rosary Pea is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Wondering what could grow where Rosary Pea is now? Upload a photo of the spot and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it replanted with natives for your region.
Indian-licorice is a vigorous climbing vine that can reach 10-30 feet tall with attractive compound leaves and small pink to purple flower clusters in summer. This fast-growing perennial produces distinctive red and black seeds that are highly toxic to humans and animals.
In an HOA neighborhood
Rosary Pea takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
- Highly toxic seeds create major liability concerns
- Aggressive growth can overtake structures and other plants
- May be considered invasive or weedy by many HOAs
Wildlife value
The summer blooms attract bees and butterflies for nectar. However, the toxic seeds pose serious risks to children, pets, and wildlife if ingested.
Common questions
- How much sun does Rosary Pea need?
- Rosary Pea grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Rosary Pea bloom?
- Rosary Pea blooms in June, July, and August.
- Is Rosary Pea toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Rosary Pea is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Rosary Pea toxic to cats?
- Yes. Rosary Pea is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Rosary Pea attract?
- Rosary Pea draws bees and butterflies.
- Is Rosary Pea HOA-friendly?
- Rosary Pea takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Rosary Pea and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.