Flame Lily — (c) Shelomi Doyle, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shelomi Doyle
Photo by (c) Shelomi Doyle, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shelomi DoyleiNaturalistCC BY
dog safety reference

Is Flame Lily safe for dogs?

Gloriosa superba

Climbing Lily is a tuberous climbing plant known for its striking, flame-like flowers. It contains colchicine, a potent alkaloid that is highly toxic to both cats and dogs if ingested.

Climbing LilyFlame LilyGloriosa LilyGloriosa superbaGlory Lily
Light
Bright indirect light
Habit
Vining climber
Care
Moderate

Safety status

Dogs

Potentially toxic

Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your dog

Dogs: emergency. Flame lily contains colchicine, the same alkaloid used in human gout medicine — at plant doses it shuts down rapidly dividing cells in the gut lining, kidneys, liver, and bone marrow. Untreated, dogs can die within 24–36 hours of ingestion.

What to watch for

Initial vomiting (often bloody) and profuse diarrhea, then weakness and collapse. Over hours to a day or two expect signs of kidney and liver injury, seizures, and bleeding from impaired clotting. The early gut signs can briefly improve before the multi-organ phase, which is the dangerous part.

Time window

Vomiting and diarrhea usually begin within a few hours of ingestion. If untreated, organ failure can be fatal within 24–36 hours.

When to call the vet

Right away — call ASPCA Animal Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline and head to an ER. Treatment that starts before signs are severe is the difference between recovery and irreversible organ damage.

First aid at home

Transport to a veterinarian immediately. Do not induce vomiting at home — colchicine cases need controlled decontamination, aggressive IV fluids, and monitoring of clotting and kidney function in clinic.

Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Dogsconcern notes

Common signs

Excessive salivation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, and potential systemic organ damage.

Escalation note

The plant contains colchicine, which can cause severe systemic poisoning. Immediate veterinary intervention is required if your dog has chewed or ingested any part of this plant.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Gloriosa superba is listed as toxic to cats and dogs due to the presence of colchicine.

Cats & dogs pagecats pageMy dog ate Flame Lily

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