Are Amaryllis Poisonous? – Toxicity to Dogs, Cats, and Humans

Amaryllis is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and can cause significant illness in people if eaten in quantity. The toxic alkaloid lycorine is found throughout the plant, with the highest concentration in the bulb. If your pet has chewed on any part of an amaryllis, contact your vet promptly.

What Part of Amaryllis Is Toxic?

The whole plant contains lycorine, a toxic alkaloid, along with other compounds that irritate the digestive system. The bulb holds the highest concentration of lycorine. This matters because bulbs are often accessible to pets when stored, planted, or unearthed by digging dogs. The leaves, stems, and flowers are also toxic, just at lower concentrations.

Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is commonly grown as a holiday houseplant and garden bulb. It goes by several other names, including Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, and Naked Lady. The scientific name for the popular holiday bulb sold in stores is sometimes Hippeastrum rather than true Amaryllis, but toxicity concerns apply to both genera.

Symptoms of Amaryllis Poisoning

Dogs and cats: Vomiting is the most common early sign. Other symptoms include depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, and tremors. In horses, depression, diarrhea, and anorexia are reported (vomiting is not typical in horses). Symptoms generally appear within a few hours of ingestion.

Humans and children: Ingesting any part of the plant causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Symptoms in humans typically last around three hours. More serious effects such as low blood pressure and liver damage have been documented in animals that consumed very large amounts, but severe systemic toxicity is not commonly reported in human cases from typical accidental ingestion.

Skin contact with the sap or bulb can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

What to Do If Amaryllis Is Ingested

1. Remove any remaining plant material from the mouth.
2. Do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional directs you to.
3. Identify which part was eaten and estimate how much, to help poison control or your vet assess severity.
4. Call your vet immediately if a pet has ingested amaryllis, especially the bulb.
5. Call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 (US) if a person has ingested the plant.
6. If symptoms such as tremors, collapse, or difficulty breathing occur, treat it as an emergency and seek care immediately.

The bulb is the most dangerous part. If your dog dug up a bulb and chewed it, do not wait for symptoms to appear before calling your vet.

Safe Handling and Storage

Amaryllis bulbs are typically sold between October and February and given as gifts. This is when accidental exposure is most common, particularly in households with dogs that investigate packages and bags.

Practical precautions:

• Store bulbs in a closed container or cabinet that pets cannot access.
• Do not leave bulbs on low shelves, in open shopping bags, or in places dogs can reach.
• Place potted amaryllis plants on high surfaces out of reach of cats that jump and dogs that counter-surf.
• Wear gloves when handling bulbs if you have sensitive skin.
• Wash hands after handling any part of the plant.

If you have a dog that regularly digs in garden beds, avoid planting amaryllis bulbs in accessible areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all amaryllis varieties equally toxic? All Amaryllis and Hippeastrum species should be treated as toxic. The toxin lycorine is present in all of them. Concentration varies, but no variety is safe for pets to eat.

My dog ate a small piece of an amaryllis leaf. How worried should I be? Call your vet. A small leaf piece is less concerning than a bulb, but symptoms can include vomiting and drooling. A vet can advise whether monitoring at home is appropriate or whether treatment is needed.

Is amaryllis more toxic than poinsettia? Yes. Amaryllis causes more serious symptoms, including tremors and significant GI distress, whereas poinsettia causes only mild irritation. Treat amaryllis ingestion as a more urgent concern.

Can amaryllis make a person seriously ill? For most accidental ingestions of leaves or flowers, symptoms in humans are unpleasant but not life-threatening and resolve within a few hours. Ingestion of a whole bulb warrants a call to poison control.

Is amaryllis toxic to horses? Yes. Depression, diarrhea, and anorexia are the primary signs in horses. Horses are less likely to encounter the plant than dogs or cats, but any confirmed ingestion warrants veterinary attention.