Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Daffodil Poisonous to Alpacas?

Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) — a garden plant. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
!

Yes — daffodil is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.). Photo: John O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Narcissus spp.
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Plant type
Garden plant
Toxic parts
Bulbs most toxic; leaves and flowers too
Toxic compound
Lycorine and other alkaloids

Why it matters

Bulbs dumped on compost heaps or dug up by animals are the typical source.

Signs of daffodil poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Colic or abdominal discomfort
  • Trembling
  • Low blood pressure in large amounts

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 daffodil

  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

Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus, and jonquil, are used to describe some or all members of the genus.From Wikipedia — “Narcissus (plant)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 380,397 recorded observations of Narcissus L. worldwide, including 9,168 in the United States. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, together with Garlic, Onion, Wild Onion & Wild Garlic. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is daffodil poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — daffodil is toxic to alpacas. Bulbs dumped on compost heaps or dug up by animals are the typical source.
What part of daffodil is toxic to alpacas?
Bulbs most toxic; leaves and flowers too.
What are the symptoms of daffodil poisoning?
Drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, colic or abdominal discomfort, trembling and low blood pressure in large amounts.
Is dried daffodil safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

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 Q29465.