Is Daylily safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Toxic |
| Dogs | Safe |
Severity: Severe
Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are among the most widely planted perennials in the United States, sold at almost every garden center from spring through summer under simple grower tags like "Daylily" or a cultivar name such as Stella de Oro. The orange Hemerocallis fulva variety has also naturalized along roadsides and drainage ditches across much of the country, where it's commonly called a "ditch lily." Cut daylily stems also turn up indoors mixed into bouquets alongside true lilies, which is exactly where the confusion starts for pet owners trying to figure out what's actually dangerous.
ASPCA's plant database classifies Hemerocallis as toxic to cats and non-toxic to dogs — a split that surprises people who assume any "lily" is equally dangerous to both species. For a cat, the risk is real and severe: Pet Poison Helpline notes that ingesting any part of the plant — petals, leaves, pollen, or even water from a vase that held cut stems — can cause vomiting, lethargy, and acute kidney failure, and ASPCA still lists the exact toxic principle as unidentified. For a dog investigating the same flower bed, the plant is classified as non-toxic. Daylily belongs to a different botanical family (Xanthorrhoeaceae) than true lilies (Lilium, in the lily family Liliaceae), even though ASPCA's own reporting notes daylilies can cause kidney injury "like Lilium sp." specifically in cats.
Because the outcome in cats can be fatal without prompt treatment, any known or suspected daylily exposure in a cat calls for an immediate call to ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) rather than a wait-and-see approach.
Facts and examples
- Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are classified by the ASPCA as toxic to cats and non-toxic to dogs. (source, verified 2026-07-28)
- In cats, ingesting any part of the daylily plant — leaves, petals, pollen, or vase water — can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, and acute kidney failure. (source, verified 2026-07-28)
- Daylily (Hemerocallis) is not a true lily (Lilium), but ASPCA notes daylilies can cause kidney injury in cats comparable to true lilies. (source, verified 2026-07-28)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-07-28 — 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 2026-07-28