Is Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) safe for cats and dogs?

Cats: Toxic · Dogs: Toxic · Severity: Moderate. Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) is one of the plants University of California Cooperative Extension specifically vets for California's drought-tolerant landscaping trend: its own 'Plant Safely in Drought-Tolerant Landscapes' guidance profiles the genus directly, noting the sap 'can be irritating to some people' even though the plant itself carries only minimal toxicity risk to animals. Solano County's UC Master Gardeners describe it more simply as a perennial that 'thrives in Solano County and over most of Northern California,' with flower stalks that can reach three feet - part of why smaller cultivars like 'Peter Pan' have become common enough in the nursery trade that gardeners use the cultivar name almost interchangeably with the genus.

Species	Verdict
Cats	Toxic
Dogs	Toxic

Severity: Moderate

If your pet may have gotten into this: call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 right away. Both lines operate 24/7 (a consultation fee may apply).

Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic

Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) is one of the plants University of California Cooperative Extension specifically vets for California's drought-tolerant landscaping trend: its own 'Plant Safely in Drought-Tolerant Landscapes' guidance profiles the genus directly, noting the sap 'can be irritating to some people' even though the plant itself carries only minimal toxicity risk to animals. Solano County's UC Master Gardeners describe it more simply as a perennial that 'thrives in Solano County and over most of Northern California,' with flower stalks that can reach three feet - part of why smaller cultivars like 'Peter Pan' have become common enough in the nursery trade that gardeners use the cultivar name almost interchangeably with the genus.

Despite the 'lily' in its common name, agapanthus is not a true lily (Lilium) and does not carry the acute kidney-failure risk that true lilies pose to cats. Pet Poison Helpline lists it as toxic via saponins, with vomiting, heavy drooling, stomach pain, and oral or skin irritation as the documented signs, and specifically notes it does not cause acute kidney failure. Because the irritation itself can be significant even without organ damage, a pet that has chewed agapanthus and is drooling heavily or pawing at its mouth should have plant material rinsed from its mouth and be seen by a veterinarian if symptoms persist; call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) for guidance.

Facts and examples

UC Cooperative Extension's 'Plant Safely in Drought-Tolerant Landscapes' guidance profiles Agapanthus directly, noting its sap 'can be irritating to some people' though the plant carries only minimal toxicity to animals. (source, verified 2026-07-29)
UC Cooperative Extension's Solano County Master Gardeners describe agapanthus as thriving 'in Solano County and over most of Northern California,' with flower stalks up to three feet tall. (source, verified 2026-07-29)
Pet Poison Helpline lists agapanthus as toxic via saponins, causing vomiting, drooling, stomach pain, and oral/skin irritation, and specifically notes it is not a true lily and does not cause acute kidney failure. (source, verified 2026-07-29)

Verdict re-verified against petpoisonhelpline.com, 2026-07-29 — confirmed unchanged. Source

This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.

Last verified 2026-07-29

Sources

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