Are Amaryllis Toxic to Cats and Dogs? Yes, per the ASPCA

Yes. The amaryllis sold as an indoor winter bulb is Hippeastrum (NC State Extension), which the ASPCA's Barbados Lily entry lists as toxic to dogs and cats, with lycorine and other alkaloids as the toxic principles. The ASPCA's separate Amaryllis entry, which covers Amaryllis spp., lists that plant as toxic too. If your pet chewed or swallowed any part, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Pet toxicity warning

Toxic to pets — cats and dogs

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) is classified as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database. The toxic principle is reported as lycorine and other alkaloids. Reported clinical signs of ingestion include vomiting, salivation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Keep this plant out of reach of pets and small children.

If you suspect your pet has ingested this plant: contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately. A consultation fee may apply. For a suspected ingestion by a human, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe.

Source: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database. This notice is general information, not veterinary advice. See our full disclaimer for details.

For growing it, see the amaryllis care guide.

What happens if a cat or dog eats an amaryllis

The ASPCA's Barbados Lily entry, which covers Hippeastrum spp. and lists "Amaryllis" among its other names, gives vomiting, salivation and diarrhea as signs and says "large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias." It adds: "Bulbs are the most poisonous part."

NC State Extension's Hippeastrum page gives the toxic principle as "Alkaloid lycorine," rates the poison severity "Medium" and lists the flowers, leaves and stems under "Poison Part." Its symptom notes also say, "Bulbs are the most poisonous part. Especially harmful to pets."

What to do if your pet ate some

Call your veterinarian, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: "If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435." The ASPCA says, "We are available 24/7, 365 days a year," and notes, "A consultation fee may apply."

Have the plant's name ready. The ASPCA files Hippeastrum and Amaryllis under different entries, so the botanical name from the plant tag or bulb box helps. Say which part was eaten, since the ASPCA's Barbados Lily entry names the bulb as the most poisonous part. Then follow the instructions you are given.

Hippeastrum or Amaryllis: which plant do you have?

NC State's Hippeastrum page lists Amaryllis, Dutch Amaryllis and Knight's Star Lily among its common names and says "Amaryllis are very popular as indoor flowering bulbs during the winter months." It also warns that the common name "can lead to some confusion because there is a genus also called Amaryllis". Kew's Plants of the World Online treats them as separate: Hippeastrum is an accepted genus in the Amaryllidaceae, and Amaryllis belladonna is an accepted species, "a bulbous geophyte." NC State's Amaryllis belladonna page lists Belladonna Lily and Naked Lady among its names and notes it "is often confused with" Hippeastrum.

The ASPCA lists both genera as toxic to dogs and cats. These are the entries, with names as each entry gives them:

ASPCA entry	Scientific name	Other names on the entry	Dogs	Cats	Toxic principles
Barbados Lily	Hippeastrum spp.	Amaryllis, Fire Lily, Lily of the Palace, Ridderstjerne	Toxic	Toxic	Lycorine and other alkaloids
Lily of the Palace	Hippeastrum spp.	Amaryllis, Fire Lily, Barbados Lily, Ridderstjerne	Toxic	Toxic	Lycorine and other alkaloids
Amaryllis	Amaryllis spp.	Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady	Toxic	Toxic	Lycorine and others
Naked Lady	Amaryllis spp.	None listed	Toxic	Toxic	Lycorine and other alkaloids

The Amaryllis entry covers Amaryllis spp., not Hippeastrum. Its clinical signs are "Vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors." NC State's Amaryllis belladonna page lists the flowers, leaves, roots, seeds and stems under "Poison Part" and says, "The plant toxicity is more pronounced in pets, especially cats."

Keeping an amaryllis in a home with pets

Store bulbs out of reach. The care guide covers resting the bulb in a cool, dark place after bloom. The ASPCA's Barbados Lily entry names the bulb as the most poisonous part, so keep stored and unplanted bulbs where pets cannot reach them.
Pick up fallen flowers and leaves. NC State lists the flowers, leaves and stems among the poison parts.
Place the pot out of reach. A high shelf or a room your pet doesn't use works better than a floor spot.
Don't count on deterrents. No placement or spray guarantees a pet will leave a plant alone. If your pet chews plants, a plant the ASPCA lists as non-toxic is the simpler choice.

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic

The ASPCA's plant list adds a caveat that applies to every plant: "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats." With that in mind, these plants have ASPCA entries listing them as non-toxic to dogs and cats:

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii): ASPCA entry. Care: Christmas cactus care.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum): ASPCA entry. Care: spider plant care.
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans): ASPCA entry. Care: parlor palm care.
Boston fern: ASPCA entry. Care: Boston fern care. See also which ferns are toxic.
Calathea: the ASPCA entry is genus-level ("Calathea spp."). Care: Calathea orbifolia care.

For more, see plants safe for cats, plants safe for dogs and the toxic plant directory.

Frequently asked

Are amaryllis toxic to dogs?

Yes. The ASPCA's Barbados Lily entry lists Hippeastrum, the plant sold as amaryllis, as toxic to dogs and cats, and its Amaryllis entry lists Amaryllis spp. as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Both name lycorine as a toxic principle.

Are amaryllis poisonous to cats?

Yes. The ASPCA lists Hippeastrum and Amaryllis spp. as toxic to cats. For Hippeastrum, it lists vomiting, salivation and diarrhea, and says large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.

Is the amaryllis bulb the most poisonous part?

Yes, according to the ASPCA's Barbados Lily entry for Hippeastrum, which says the bulbs are the most poisonous part. NC State Extension's Hippeastrum page says the same.

Is it safe to have an amaryllis in a house with cats?

The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to cats, so no spot in the house makes it risk-free. If you keep one, put it and any stored bulbs where your cat cannot reach, and pick up fallen flowers and leaves.

Is Amaryllis belladonna the same plant as the holiday amaryllis?

No. Kew's Plants of the World Online treats Hippeastrum and Amaryllis belladonna as separate, and NC State notes that the shared name causes confusion. The ASPCA lists both as toxic to dogs and cats, under different entries.

What should I do if my dog ate an amaryllis bulb?

Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA notes that a consultation fee may apply. Say that the bulb was eaten and give the botanical name, Hippeastrum, if you have it.

Sources: ASPCA: Barbados Lily, ASPCA: Lily of the Palace, ASPCA: Amaryllis, ASPCA: Naked Lady, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, ASPCA: Christmas Cactus, ASPCA: Spider Plant, ASPCA: Parlor Palm, ASPCA: Boston Fern, ASPCA: Calathea, NC State Extension: Hippeastrum, NC State Extension: Amaryllis belladonna, Kew POWO: Hippeastrum, Kew POWO: Amaryllis belladonna