It’s the time of year when plant shops, garden centers and florists have abundant stock of the beautiful Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum). This member of the lily family is a bulb, with large, showy, pure white, trumpet-shaped, fragrant flowers ranks fourth most popular of seasonal potted plants, exceeded only by the poinsettia, chrysanthemum (‘Mum’) and azalea. The Easter lily is also known as Bermuda lily or St. Joseph’s lily and is native to the Ryukyu Islands, south of Japan. It closely resembles the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum), the oldest lily in cultivation.

In Colorado, the Easter lily is generally sold as a potted plant, ready to bloom mid-March to mid-April in time for Easter. Once the flowers have faded the plant is most often discarded, but it can be removed from the pot and planted in organically rich, well-drained soil in a sunny location in the garden. The bulb should be fertilized monthly during the growing season and should be mulched well to help it survive the winter dormant period. Remove the spent flowers, but allow the foliage to dry down naturally. With these steps, the plant will bloom the following summer.

Despite its beauty, the Easter lily, and many other members of the lily family, has one potentially hazardous for households with cats. The Easter lily is one of the most poisonous houseplants to cats that chew on or eat any part of the plant, including the leaves and petals. After eating as little as a single leaf or petal, a cat may start to vomit 24-48 hours later. Unless aggressively treated with intravenous fluids and possibly dialysis, the cat will die from kidney failure. Despite on-going research, the specific toxin in lilies that is poisonous to cats is unknown. Dogs are not affected by Easter lilies or other lilies.

If a cat is known to have eaten parts of a lily, it should be taken to a veterinarian immediately, especially if the cat is vomiting. Timely treatment is essential for the cat to have a chance at recovering from kidney failure.

As a final word of caution, it is important to remember that many of the common members of the lily family including the daylily (Hemerocallis sp.), tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) and the Asiatic and Oriental hybrid lilies are all poisonous to cats if chewed or eaten. Inform your veterinarian if your cat has access to lilies in your home or garden, especially if the cat is vomiting repeatedly, and is diagnosed with signs of kidney failure. If your cat is a plant “eater,” it is best to admire Easter lilies at the garden stores, instead of bringing one into the home.

The authors have received training through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.

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This page updated:  March 30, 2007