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Amaryllis: toxicity, first aid and care
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrids): toxic for cats, toxic for dogs, toxic for small children. The toxic principle, the signs, what to do, and how to grow it.
Cats: ToxicDogs: ToxicChildren: Toxic
Also sold as: Christmas amaryllis, knight's star lily, amarüllis.
This is a reference table, not a diagnosis and not veterinary or medical advice. It cannot tell you how much of a plant matters for a particular child or a particular animal — that depends on body weight, on the part eaten and on how long ago. If a person or an animal has eaten part of a plant, phone the poison information centre or a clinician; do not wait for symptoms, and do not make anyone vomit unless you are told to.
What is in it
Toxic principle: Lycorine and related alkaloids, concentrated in the bulb — Alkaloids and other systemic poisons.
Lycorine is a potent emetic; the leaves and flowers carry some and the bulb carries most. The bulb is the specific hazard in this household plant because it is enormous, half out of the compost, and sitting on a windowsill throughout December where a dog can reach it.
What it looks like when it goes wrong
Drooling, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea; in a larger exposure, lethargy, tremors and low blood pressure.
What to do
Phone a veterinary clinic, especially where a dog has eaten bulb rather than leaf. Most animals recover with supportive care, but persistent vomiting causes dehydration quickly in small patients.
| Country | Poison information centre | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Mürgistusteabekeskus (Health Board) | 16662 | Round the clock; 112 for an emergency |
| Finland | Myrkytystietokeskus (HUS) | 0800 147 111 | Free, round the clock |
| Latvia | Saindēšanās un zāļu informācijas centrs | 67042473 | Round the clock |
| Sweden | Giftinformationscentralen | 010-456 67 00 | Non-urgent advice; 112 in an emergency |
| Norway | Giftinformasjonen | 22 59 13 00 | Round the clock |
| Denmark | Giftlinjen (Bispebjerg Hospital) | 82 12 12 12 | Round the clock |
Anywhere in the European Union, 112 reaches emergency services and can put you through. Lithuania's poison information bureau (Apsinuodijimų kontrolės ir informacijos biuras) publishes its own round-the-clock line; if you do not have it to hand, use 112. For an animal, your own veterinary clinic or its out-of-hours service is the first call — human poison centres do not advise on animals in every country.
How to grow it
| Condition | What it wants |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright light while in leaf; darkness during its rest |
| Water | Sparingly until the bud appears, then regularly |
| Temperature | 18-22 °C to force; 10-13 °C dry for the autumn rest |
It is entirely reusable, which most people do not realise. After flowering, cut the spent stem, keep the leaves growing in good light all summer and feed them — that is when next year's flower is built — then withhold water in early autumn, let the leaves die back, and rest the bulb dry and cool for eight to ten weeks before starting it again. Plant it with the top third of the bulb above the compost.
What it gets confused with
The plant sold as amaryllis is Hippeastrum; true Amaryllis belladonna is a different South African genus that is not what is in the Christmas box. The name confusion is universal and harmless — the toxicity note applies to what you actually bought.
A plant that is not on the toxic lists
If you are deciding what to keep in a home with a cat, a dog or a small child, this one fills a similar role and is not flagged by the veterinary services.
Others that work the same way
Alkaloids and other systemic poisons — these behave alike, and what you would do about them is alike too.
Autumn crocus
Colchicine
Castor bean
Ricin (in the seed)
Deadly nightshade and bittersweet
Tropane alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine); solanine in Solanum
Monkshood
Aconitine alkaloids
Sago palm
Cycasin and related azoxyglycosides
True lily and daylily
Unidentified nephrotoxin (cats only)
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — toxic and non-toxic plants · checked 2026-09-06
Care guidance is standard horticultural practice for a cool-temperate northern climate. Poison-centre numbers are listed on the hub page and are worth confirming against your own country's health service.
Frequently asked questions
Is amaryllis toxic to cats?
The veterinary lists rate it "toxic" for cats and "toxic" for dogs. The toxic principle is lycorine and related alkaloids, concentrated in the bulb. Lycorine is a potent emetic; the leaves and flowers carry some and the bulb carries most. The bulb is the specific hazard in this household plant because it is enormous, half out of the compost, and sitting on a windowsill throughout December where a dog can reach it.
What should I do if my dog eats amaryllis?
Phone a veterinary clinic, especially where a dog has eaten bulb rather than leaf. Most animals recover with supportive care, but persistent vomiting causes dehydration quickly in small patients.
Is amaryllis dangerous for a small child?
The verdict for a child who chews or swallows part of it is "toxic". Drooling, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea; in a larger exposure, lethargy, tremors and low blood pressure.
How do you care for amaryllis?
Light: Bright light while in leaf; darkness during its rest. Water: Sparingly until the bud appears, then regularly. Temperature: 18-22 °C to force; 10-13 °C dry for the autumn rest. It is entirely reusable, which most people do not realise. After flowering, cut the spent stem, keep the leaves growing in good light all summer and feed them — that is when next year's flower is built — then withhold water in early autumn, let the leaves die back, and rest the bulb dry and cool for eight to ten weeks before starting it again.
What is amaryllis confused with?
The plant sold as amaryllis is Hippeastrum; true Amaryllis belladonna is a different South African genus that is not what is in the Christmas box. The name confusion is universal and harmless — the toxicity note applies to what you actually bought.
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