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Peace lily: toxicity, first aid and care
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii and hybrids): toxic for cats, toxic for dogs, irritant for small children. The toxic principle, the signs, what to do, and how to grow it.
Cats: ToxicDogs: ToxicChildren: Irritant
Also sold as: Spathiphyllum, white sails, lippulehti.
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: Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides — Calcium oxalate needles.
An arum, not a lily, and the distinction is the most important fact on this page. Peace lily carries oxalate needles that hurt the mouth; it does not carry the unidentified nephrotoxin that makes true lilies destroy a cat's kidneys. A cat that chews a peace lily has a painful mouth. A cat that chews a Lilium may be in kidney failure by the weekend.
What it looks like when it goes wrong
Immediate drooling and mouth-pawing, a refusal to eat, sometimes vomiting; occasionally swelling of the lips or tongue. The white "flower" is a modified leaf, and it carries the same crystals as the rest of the plant.
What to do
Rinse the mouth with cool water and offer milk or yoghurt. Phone a veterinary clinic if drooling persists, breathing or swallowing looks difficult, or the face swells. If the plant in question might be a true lily rather than a peace lily, stop reading and phone now.
| 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 | Low to medium indirect light — one of the few that flowers in shade |
| Water | Keep evenly moist; it wilts dramatically and recovers fully |
| Temperature | 18-24 °C; it resents cold draughts and dry radiator air |
The theatrical wilt is a feature — it collapses when thirsty and stands back up within hours of a soak, which makes it a good plant for people who forget. Brown crispy leaf tips usually mean tap-water minerals or dry air rather than thirst. It flowers most reliably when slightly pot-bound, so resist repotting it every year.
What it gets confused with
Florists, gift shops and sympathy bouquets all call it a lily, and search engines cheerfully merge the two. If you take one thing from this surface: identify the plant by its botanical name before you decide how frightened to be, because "lily" covers a mouth-irritant and a killer of cats.
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
Calcium oxalate needles — these behave alike, and what you would do about them is alike too.
Alocasia
Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides
Anthurium
Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides
Dumb cane
Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides plus proteolytic enzymes
Monstera
Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides
Philodendron
Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides
Pothos
Insoluble calcium oxalate raphides
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 peace lily toxic to cats?
The veterinary lists rate it "toxic" for cats and "toxic" for dogs. The toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalate raphides. An arum, not a lily, and the distinction is the most important fact on this page. Peace lily carries oxalate needles that hurt the mouth; it does not carry the unidentified nephrotoxin that makes true lilies destroy a cat's kidneys.
What should I do if my dog eats peace lily?
Rinse the mouth with cool water and offer milk or yoghurt. Phone a veterinary clinic if drooling persists, breathing or swallowing looks difficult, or the face swells.
Is peace lily dangerous for a small child?
The verdict for a child who chews or swallows part of it is "irritant" — milder than for a cat, which is the household member this plant affects most. In a child the expected problem is a sore mouth and an upset stomach. Phone the poison information centre with the plant to hand; they will tell you whether it needs to be seen.
How do you care for peace lily?
Light: Low to medium indirect light — one of the few that flowers in shade. Water: Keep evenly moist; it wilts dramatically and recovers fully. Temperature: 18-24 °C; it resents cold draughts and dry radiator air. The theatrical wilt is a feature — it collapses when thirsty and stands back up within hours of a soak, which makes it a good plant for people who forget.
What is peace lily confused with?
Florists, gift shops and sympathy bouquets all call it a lily, and search engines cheerfully merge the two. If you take one thing from this surface: identify the plant by its botanical name before you decide how frightened to be, because "lily" covers a mouth-irritant and a killer of cats.
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