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Plant encyclopedia

Plants toxic to cats

Cats nibble on anything green — and some of the most popular cut flowers are dangerous for them. Lilies top the list: even pollen on the fur or a sip of vase water can cause acute kidney failure in cats. Tulips, eucalyptus and dieffenbachia don't belong in a cat household either.

This list is generated from our plant encyclopedia and updates automatically with every new entry. We deliberately err on the side of caution. If you're gifting a bouquet to a cat household, just tell us — we'll arrange it cat-safe.

In an emergency: German poison control Bonn +49 228 19240 (24/7), for pets contact an emergency vet. This page does not replace medical or veterinary advice.

202 entries from our encyclopedia

Allium (Ornamental Onion)

Allium

Highly toxic

Yew

Taxus baccata

Highly toxic

Monkshood

Aconitum napellus

Highly toxic

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Highly toxic

Hellebore

Helleborus niger

Highly toxic

Autumn Crocus

Colchicum autumnale

Highly toxic

Lilies

Lilium

Highly toxic

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Highly toxic

Oleander

Nerium oleander

Highly toxic

Star of Bethlehem

Ornithogalum

Highly toxic

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Highly toxic

Delphinium

Delphinium

Highly toxic

Glory Lily

Gloriosa

Highly toxic

Flame Lily

Gloriosa superba

Highly toxic

Andromeda

Pieris japonica

Highly toxic

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Highly toxic

Daylily

Hemerocallis

Highly toxic

Desert Rose

Adenium obesum

Highly toxic

Indoor Azalea

Rhododendron simsii

Highly toxic

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema commutatum

Toxic

Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris

Toxic

Elephant Ear

Alocasia

Toxic

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera

Toxic

Amaryllis

Hippeastrum

Toxic

Anemones

Anemone coronaria

Toxic

Flamingo Flower

Anthurium andraeanum

Toxic

Anthuriums

Anthurium

Toxic

Asparagus Fern

Asparagus setaceus

Toxic

Bigleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

Toxic

Begonia

Begonia

Toxic

Weeping Fig

Ficus benjamina

Toxic

Wisteria

Wisteria sinensis

Toxic

Squill

Scilla

Toxic

Snake Plant

Dracaena trifasciata

Toxic

Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens

Toxic

Coleus

Coleus scutellarioides

Toxic

Calla Lilies

Zantedeschia

Toxic

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemum

Toxic

Clematis

Clematis

Toxic

Dumb Cane

Dieffenbachia seguine

Toxic

Mandevilla

Mandevilla

Toxic

Dragon Tree (Dracaena)

Dracaena

Toxic

Ivy

Hedera helix

Toxic

Tree Ivy

x Fatshedera lizei

Toxic

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

Toxic

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum wallisii

Toxic

String of Pearls

Senecio rowleyanus

Toxic

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

Toxic

Fritillary

Fritillaria imperialis

Toxic

Hosta

Hosta

Toxic

Garden Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

Toxic

Jade Plant

Crassula ovata

Toxic

Geranium

Pelargonium

Toxic

Ginseng Ficus

Ficus microcarpa

Toxic

Gladiolus

Gladiolus

Toxic

ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Toxic

Wallflower

Erysimum cheiri

Toxic

False Queen Annes Lace

Ammi

Toxic

Crinum Lily

Crinum

Toxic

Bluebell

Hyacinthoides

Toxic

Garden Mum

Chrysanthemum indicum-Hybriden

Toxic

Hydrangeas

Hydrangea

Toxic

Dogs Tooth Violet

Erythronium

Toxic

Hyacinths

Hyacinthus orientalis

Toxic

Iris

Iris

Toxic

African Milk Tree

Euphorbia trigona

Toxic

Flaming Katy

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Toxic

Cordyline

Cordyline fruticosa

Toxic

Cherry Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus

Toxic

Climbing Hydrangea

Hydrangea petiolaris

Toxic

Clivia

Clivia miniata

Toxic

Snowflake

Leucojum

Toxic

Crocus

Crocus

Toxic

Croton

Codiaeum variegatum

Toxic

Chinese Lantern

Physalis alkekengi

Toxic

Chinese Lantern Lily

Sandersonia

Toxic

Arborvitae

Thuja

Toxic

Floss Flower

Ageratum houstonianum

Toxic

Privet

Ligustrum

Toxic

Lobelia

Lobelia erinus

Toxic

Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilis

Toxic

Lupins

Lupinus

Toxic

Summer Snowflake

Leucojum

Toxic

Poppies

Papaver

Toxic

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa

Toxic

Feverfew

Tanacetum

Toxic

Daffodils

Narcissus

Toxic

Nerine

Nerine

Toxic

Peonies

Paeonia

Toxic

Philodendron

Philodendron

Toxic

Moss Rose

Portulaca grandiflora

Toxic

Ranunculus

Ranunculus asiaticus

Toxic

Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata

Toxic

Ruscus

Ruscus aculeatus

Toxic

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Toxic

Umbrella Plant

Schefflera arboricola

Toxic

African Lily

Agapanthus

Toxic

Snowdrop

Galanthus nivalis

Toxic

Satin Pothos

Scindapsus pictus

Toxic

Dusty Miller

Jacobaea

Toxic

Skimmia

Skimmia japonica

Toxic

Spindle

Euonymus

Toxic

Holly

Ilex aquifolium

Toxic

Strelitzia

Strelitzia reginae

Toxic

Arrowhead Plant

Syngonium podophyllum

Toxic

Globeflower

Trollius europaeus

Toxic

Tulips

Tulipa

Toxic

Heliotrope

Heliotropium arborescens

Toxic

Lantana

Lantana camara

Toxic

Sweet Peas

Lathyrus odoratus

Toxic

Winter Aconite

Eranthis hyemalis

Toxic

Yucca

Yucca gigantea (syn. Yucca elephantipes)

Toxic

Flowering Cherry

Prunus serrulata

Toxic

Flowering Tobacco

Nicotiana

Toxic

Cyclamen

Cyclamen persicum

Toxic

Elecampane

Inula

Mildly irritating

Banksia

Banksia

Mildly irritating

Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus

Mildly irritating

Barberry

Berberis

Mildly irritating

Blue Lace Flower

Trachymene

Mildly irritating

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea

Mildly irritating

Blushing Bride

Serruria

Mildly irritating

Maltese Cross

Silene chalcedonica

Mildly irritating

Turtle Vine

Callisia repens

Mildly irritating

Smoke Bush

Cotinus coggygria

Mildly irritating

Billy Buttons

Craspedia globosa

Mildly irritating

Dahlias

Dahlia

Mildly irritating

Angelica

Angelica

Mildly irritating

Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus

Mildly irritating

Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia

Mildly irritating

Feather Grass

Stipa

Mildly irritating

Prickly Pear

Opuntia

Mildly irritating

Stonecrop

Sedum

Mildly irritating

Firethorn

Pyracantha

Mildly irritating

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Mildly irritating

Forsythia

Forsythia

Mildly irritating

Love-Lies-Bleeding

Amaranthus

Mildly irritating

Fiddle-leaf Fig

Ficus lyrata

Mildly irritating

Honeysuckle

Lonicera

Mildly irritating

Leopard's Bane

Doronicum

Mildly irritating

Photinia

Photinia x fraseri

Mildly irritating

Leopard Plant

Ligularia

Mildly irritating

Rubber Plant

Ficus elastica

Mildly irritating

Hakea

Hakea

Mildly irritating

Harlequin Flower

Sparaxis

Mildly irritating

Cotton Lavender

Santolina

Mildly irritating

Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

Mildly irritating

Hibiscus

Hibiscus syriacus

Mildly irritating

Peruvian Lily

Alstroemeria

Mildly irritating

Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

Mildly irritating

Cape Cowslip

Lachenalia

Mildly irritating

Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla

Mildly irritating

African Corn Lily

Ixia

Mildly irritating

Button Bush

Berzelia

Mildly irritating

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia

Mildly irritating

Coral Bead Plant

Nertera granadensis

Mildly irritating

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Mildly irritating

Lavender Plant

Lavandula angustifolia

Mildly irritating

Lungwort

Pulmonaria

Mildly irritating

Meadowsweet

Filipendula

Mildly irritating

Oregon Grape

Mahonia aquifolium

Mildly irritating

Marguerites

Leucanthemum vulgare

Mildly irritating

Mint

Mentha

Mildly irritating

Crocosmia

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora

Mildly irritating

Pincushion Protea

Leucospermum

Mildly irritating

Carnations

Dianthus caryophyllus

Mildly irritating

Love-in-a-mist

Nigella damascena

Mildly irritating

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Mildly irritating

Paper Daisy

Rhodanthe

Mildly irritating

Passion Flower

Passiflora

Mildly irritating

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Mildly irritating

Pistachio Foliage

Pistacia lentiscus

Mildly irritating

Primrose

Primula vulgaris

Mildly irritating

Protea

Protea cynaroides

Mildly irritating

Striped Squill

Puschkinia scilloides

Mildly irritating

Cupids Dart

Catananche

Mildly irritating

Baby's Breath

Gypsophila paniculata

Mildly irritating

Viburnum

Viburnum

Mildly irritating

Glory of the Snow

Chionodoxa

Mildly irritating

Pineapple Lily

Eucomis

Mildly irritating

Conebush

Leucadendron

Mildly irritating

Silver Brunia

Brunia

Mildly irritating

Artemisia

Artemisia

Mildly irritating

Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii

Mildly irritating

Bird of Paradise Plant

Strelitzia reginae

Mildly irritating

Marigold

Tagetes erecta

Mildly irritating

Spiderwort

Tradescantia zebrina

Mildly irritating

Grape Hyacinth

Muscari

Mildly irritating

Angels Fishing Rod

Dierama

Mildly irritating

Flame Freesia

Tritonia

Mildly irritating

Trumpet Vine

Campsis radicans

Mildly irritating

Tuberose

Agave amica (Syn. Polianthes tuberosa)

Mildly irritating

Verbena

Verbena

Mildly irritating

Goat's Beard

Aruncus dioicus

Mildly irritating

Bugle Lily

Watsonia

Mildly irritating

Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Mildly irritating

Queen Annes Lace

Daucus

Mildly irritating

Crabapple

Malus

Mildly irritating

Japanese Aralia

Fatsia japonica

Mildly irritating

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Mildly irritating

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster

Mildly irritating

Cypress

Cupressus

Mildly irritating

Frequently asked questions

Which flowers are most dangerous for cats?
Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis) are by far the most dangerous: all parts, even pollen and vase water, can cause acute kidney failure. Tulips, daffodils, lily of the valley and autumn crocus are also highly toxic.
What should I do if my cat has nibbled a toxic plant?
Don't wait: remove plant material from the mouth, identify the plant (take a photo!) and call your vet or the emergency vet immediately. With lily contact every hour counts — even without visible symptoms.
What symptoms do cats show after plant poisoning?
Typical signs are heavy drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling, apathy or loss of appetite. With lilies, symptoms may only appear after hours when the kidneys are already damaged — so always see a vet immediately if in doubt.
Are there cat-safe alternatives for bouquets?
Yes — roses, gerberas, sunflowers, snapdragons or limonium are safe for cats. Our cat-safe list shows all non-toxic entries from the encyclopedia.
Is it enough to keep the plant out of reach?
For highly toxic species like lilies: no. Cats reach almost every spot in a home, and even falling pollen is dangerous. Highly toxic plants simply don't belong in a cat household.

Not sure? Ask us directly.

We advise on pet- and child-safe bouquets and plants in our Düsseldorf-Pempelfort shop — no appointment needed.