Decorating with plants and flowers is a great way to beautify your home, but some of your favorite foliage can be toxic to your feline friend. Before adding new greenery to your home or garden, read up on poisonous plants to cats so that you can keep your kitty safe.

Plants That Are Poisonous to Cats

From houseplants to garden plants, including vegetables and herbs, here is just a selection of plants and flowers toxic to cats:

1. Lilies: People tend to use "lily" as an all-encompassing term, but there are about 90 species in all, including the Asiatic lily, Easter lily and lily of the valley. What do they have in common other than a name? They're all poisonous plants to cats. In fact, they're one of the most toxic plants for your feline friend; ingestion can lead to immediate kidney failure.

2. Eucalyptus: Though rich in fiber, eucalyptus isn't part of a healthy diet — the leaves are toxic to most animals, except koalas and a few wild bird species.

3. Jade: Succulents, like jade, are the perfect option for those who don't have a green thumb because they're low-maintenance and beautiful. Unfortunately, jade is also one of several succulents that are poisonous to cats.

4. Milkweed: Planting milkweed in gardens has become a popular way to support monarch butterfly populations. However, the fruit of the milkweed plant is toxic to both wildlife and humans.

5. Onion: Onions are a staple of dinner tables around the globe, especially in China and India, the top two onion-producing countries. But onions, as well as garlic, leeks, scallions, chives and shallots, are toxic to many animals, including cats and dogs.

6. Tomato: The fruit of the tomato is harmless to your kitty, but its stem and leaves can be toxic. Add this to your list of people food not to give your cat.

7. Daffodils: These popular springtime annuals, with their deep yellow and white coloring, look terrific bunched together. But don't let their beauty deceive you. According to a study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, daffodil flowers, leaves and bulbs can all be poisonous to cats.

8. Hyacinths: Sweet-smelling hyacinth flowers are native to the eastern Mediterranean. Close relatives include water hyacinths, native to Texas, and the tulip. Despite their beauty, these bulb flowers contain alkaloids that can be dangerous for your kitty.

9. Mistletoe: The practice of kissing under the mistletoe dates back to the 18th century. For cats, though, these plants don't lead to everlasting love but to serious health issues, including cardiovascular shutdown. Other holiday plants, like amaryllis, also pose problems for your cat's health and should be kept out of the house.

10. Mandrake: The flowering mandrake shrub originated in the Mediterranean region and has had a mythical reputation for centuries. But its toxicity isn't just folklore: The mandrake root is highly poisonous to cats (and to humans).

11. Azaleas: Part of the rhododendron family, an azalea is a small, deciduous species in which the whole plant can be considered poisonous to a cat that may involve gastrointestinal, cardiovascular or central nervous system issues, says the Pet Poison Helpline.

Other common plants that are toxic to cats include:

• Croton (Joseph's Coat)
• Caladium (Elephant Ear)
• Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
• Ficus (rubber plants, weeping and variegated fig plants)
• Philodendron
• Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)
• Oleander
• Poinsettia
• Christmas Cherry
• Holly Berries

Toxicity can vary based on the type of plant and how much is ingested. For instance, poinsettias, common during holiday seasons, have a mild toxicity to cats, however for certain cats or certain amounts of consumption can result in severe enough clinical signs worthy of medical treatment. If you're curious about getting a new plant for the home, but want to know if it is poisonous to your cat, the Pet Poison Helpline is a good resource to check against numerous types of plants.