Lily of the Nile

Lily of the Nile

Agapanthus praecox
Dogs: Mild Cats: Mild

Plant Information

Agapanthus, African Lily, Blue Lily

Amaryllidaceae

garden

Mildly Toxic

Toxicity Details

rhizomes, sap, leaves

Saponins

1 to 4 hours

mild

Symptoms to Watch For

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Skin irritation from sap

What to Do

Monitor at home. Despite the name 'lily', Agapanthus is NOT a true lily and does NOT cause kidney failure in cats. GI upset is usually mild.

About Lily of the Nile

Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) is NOT a true lily and is much less dangerous than true lilies (Lilium). It causes only mild GI upset from saponins. The name can cause unnecessary panic — this plant does not cause the fatal kidney failure that true lilies cause in cats.

Safe Alternatives

These plants provide a similar look but are non-toxic to pets: