Flowers and plants can be lovely additions to household decor or thoughtful gifts, but they can also be items of interest for curious pets. Pets often explore new plants in their environment by sniffing, chewing, licking and eating them. For this reason, it’s very important to ensure that the plants and flowers that your pet has access to are non-toxic and unlikely to cause harm if they are inadvertently ingested. There are many plants that can cause significant concerns if ingested, but the following are a few that are particularly important to be aware of.

Disclaimer: Any plant can cause mild stomach upset when ingested by pets, but the toxic plants listed below are those that can cause significant, potentially life-threatening consequences.

Toxic Plants:

The following are a few common and botanical names of toxic lily plants:

• Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum)
• Japanese Lily (Lillium speciosum)
• Oriental Lily Hybrids (Lilium spp.)
• Stargazer Lily (Lilium orientalis ‘Stargazer’)
• Casa Blanca Lily (Lilium orientalis ‘Casa Blanca’)
• Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium)
• Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)

Sago Palms (Cycas revoluta): Sago palms are common household and landscaping plants that unfortunately carry very serious consequences to dogs and cats with even small exposures. Primary concerns with ingestion include severe stomach upset, liver damage, low blood sugar and bleeding issues, which can progress to seizures and death. All parts of the plant are toxic, with the seeds being most concentrated and dangerous.

Tulips (Tulipa spp.): Tulips and tulip bulbs are toxic to dogs, cats and horses. They can cause significant stomach upset, depression and possible intestinal obstructions if large bulbs are ingested.

Oleander (Nerium oleander): Oleander are beautiful flowering shrubs often used in landscaping, but for dogs, cats and horses, they carry the risk of causing serious heart problems — including arrythmias and low blood pressure — when ingested, which can be life threatening. Symptoms can be delayed after exposure and stomach upset – including vomiting, diarrhea and pain – is often seen prior to abnormalities with heart function.

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale): Autumn crocuses are often mistaken as other types of crocuses, but the autumn crocus is important to differentiate as it’s extremely toxic to dogs, cats and horses with even small ingestions. Toxicity from the autumn crocus can cause severe stomach upset, heart problems (arrythmias, low blood pressure), liver failure, kidney failure and issues with abnormal bleeding and bone marrow function.

Roses – Rosa spp.

Sunflowers – Helianthus spp.

Zinnia – Zinnia elegans

Gerber Daisy – Gerbera spp.

Snapdragons – Antirrhinum spp.

Orchids – Orchidaceae

Asters – Symphyotrichum spp.

Statice – Limonium spp.

Freesia – Freesia spp.

Wax Flower – Chamelaucium spp.

Petunia – Petunia spp.

African Violet – Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia

Easter Cactus - Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri

Hens and Chicks - Sempervivum tectorum

Friendship Plant - Pilea involucrata

Boston Fern - Nephrolepis exaltata

Spider Plant - Chlorophytum comosum

Zebra Haworthia - Haworthiopsis attenuate

If you have any reason to suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.