Is Clivia poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Clivia (bush lily) is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The bulbs are the most poisonous part.

  • Dogs Call a vet today
  • Cats Call a vet today

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
  3. Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
  4. Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.

Don't

  • Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Clivia contains lycorine, an alkaloid toxin, in all parts of the plant, and ingestion can cause vomiting, drooling and retching.[1] Bulbs are the most poisonous part; large ingestions can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and abnormal heart rhythms.[2]

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting
  • Drooling
  • Diarrhea
  • Convulsions
  • Low blood pressure
  • Tremors
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
Scientific name
Clivia
Poisonous parts
flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

Which part of Clivia is most poisonous?

The bulbs are the most poisonous part, and the toxin is found in all parts of the plant.

Is Clivia dangerous for cats too?

Clivia is listed as a problem for cats; listed signs include vomiting, salivation and diarrhea.[2]

Sources

  1. Pet Poison Helpline
  2. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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