Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Deadly

Is Autumn Crocus Poisonous to Alpacas?

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) — a garden plant. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — autumn crocus is highly poisonous. Small amounts can kill.

Keep alpacas completely away from this plant, including clippings and fallen leaves.

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Photo: Stemonitis, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Deadly
Scientific name
Colchicum autumnale
Family
Colchicaceae
Plant type
Garden plant
Also known as
Meadow saffron, naked lady, Meadow Saffron, meadow saffron
Toxic parts
All parts, including corms
Toxic compound
Colchicine

Why it matters

Common in European meadows and gardens. It stays toxic in hay — a known hazard of meadow hay in Europe.

Signs of autumn crocus poisoning in alpacas

  • Severe diarrhea (may be bloody)
  • Colic
  • Weakness
  • Kidney and multi-organ failure

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate autumn crocus

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron, naked boys or naked ladies, is a toxic autumn-blooming flowering plant that resembles the true crocuses, but is a member of the plant family Colchicaceae, unlike the true crocuses, which belong to the family Iridaceae. It is called "naked boys/ladies" because the flowers emerge from the ground long before the leaves appear. Despite the vernacular name of "meadow saffron", this plant is not the source of saffron, which is obtained from the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus – and that plant, too, is sometimes called "autumn crocus".From Wikipedia — “Colchicum autumnale”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 176,080 recorded observations of Colchicum autumnale L. worldwide, including 198 in the United States. It belongs to the Colchicaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is autumn crocus poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — autumn crocus is highly poisonous. Small amounts can kill. Common in European meadows and gardens. It stays toxic in hay — a known hazard of meadow hay in Europe.
What part of autumn crocus is toxic to alpacas?
All parts, including corms.
What are the symptoms of autumn crocus poisoning?
Severe diarrhea (may be bloody), colic, weakness and kidney and multi-organ failure.
Is dried autumn crocus safe?
No — the toxin in this plant remains active when dried, so contaminated hay and dried clippings are still dangerous.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q152553.