Surrounding yourself with fresh flowers and green plants is a great way to live a happy, stress-free, and healthy life. As more people become aware of the many health benefits fresh plants and flowers provide us, having floral bouquets and houseplants in the home has become a regular part of modern living. Another part is having a pet to provide companionship. Pet ownership has been on a steady rise in the U.S. so it’s important to make sure the plants and flowers you have in the home are pet-friendly. Here at Robertson’s Flowers, we want you to enjoy the benefits of plants and flowers in your home without worrying if they are toxic so we put together a list of our favorite, gorgeous plants and flowers that are also pet-friendly.

Safe Plants & Flowers for Pets

Parlor Palm

An easy-to-grow houseplant that brings energy, texture, and volume to any room is the Parlor Plant. Large leaves grow out of a single trunk arching gracefully as they get taller. The Parlor Palm is pet-friendly and can grow as tall as four feet indoors.

Calathea Orbifolia

A stunning variety of the Calathea family the Calathea Orbifolia has large round leaves decorated with pale, silver lines. This plant grows best in a humid environment and away from direct sunlight. Calathea Orbifolia is a wonderful pet-friendly and eye-catching houseplant to add to your collection.

Bird’s Nest Fern

With light green leaves that have wavy, crinkled edges, the Bird’s Nest Fern really stands out. One of the interesting fern varieties, this one has a bit of a tropical vibe to it as its leaves resemble those of the banana plant. Bird’s Nest Ferns are pet-friendly and can tolerate low-light conditions.

Ponytail Palm

A whimsical plant with a lot of personalities, the Ponytail Palm is a great way to add excitement and energy to a room. Storing water in its trunk, this plant is not a palm but actually a succulent. Long and skinny leaves grow out of the top of the trunk and cascade down in a fashion that resembles a ponytail, hence its name. The Ponytail Palm is safe for pets and prefers dry soil, so don’t overwater.

Haworthia / Echeveria

For all succulent lovers, you’ll be pleased to know that the Haworthia and Echeveria succulents, and their numerous types, are all pet-friendly. This gives you plenty of various shapes, colors, and styles to choose from.

Polka Dot Plant

For a little bit of color mixed in with the green, pick up a Polka Dot Plant. This interesting-looking plant has large green leaves with a speckled pattern, or dots, in a different color. The pink color on green really stands out. Other color combinations include white and green, red and green, and pink and white. The Polka Dot Plant is pet-friendly.

Roses

Is it any wonder the most popular flower in the world is also pet-friendly? The rose is classic, gorgeous, fragrant, and universally recognized as a symbol of love. Growing in nearly every color, there’s really just no reason to not have these beautiful blooms in your home.

Gerbera Daisies

For a fabulous pop of color, Gerbera Daisies always come through. With a broad face and radiating petals in vivid colors, this is a flower that spread joy and happiness. Often paired with other florals in bouquets, the pet-friendly Gerbera Daisy also looks great in a vase with just other daisies, too.

Sunflowers

What’s summer and fall without sunflowers? Boring. This vibrant yellow beauty with a large face brightens any room instantly and spreads warmth and joy. Sunflowers are not only pet-friendly but just friendly all around.

Snapdragons

A lovely grouping of delicate blooms that grow together on the top portion of a long stalk, Snapdragons are great for adding height and volume to flower arrangements. Bringing an explosion of color, Snapdragons are safe for pets and look great in a vase just by themselves.

Orchid

For a plant that is so exotic, graceful, and sophisticated, we are happy that Orchids are also safe for pets. These amazing plants have large, dramatic blooms that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and beautiful color patterns. They love humidity and are perfect for the bathroom which will give it an instant style boost.

Pansies

Charming and cheerful, Pansies are pretty little flowers that pop up nearly everywhere, including on cakes and in drinks. Pansies are safe for pets and humans and are, in fact, edible. Coming in a variety of blues, yellows, and purples, Pansies look great in a container or a hanging planter.

If your pet has ingested a toxic plant or flower, or some other toxic substance such as chocolate, raisins, avocado, prescription drugs, or rat poison, then be on the lookout for signs of poisoning such as lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, drooling, dehydration, and bleeding gums. Normally, when a pet consumes something that doesn’t agree with them, it will resolve itself within a few days. However, if you notice one or more of the above-listed conditions for more than 24 hours, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible. For a complete list of plants and flowers that are toxic to cats and dogs, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website.

How to Protect your Pets from Toxic Plants & Flowers

There may be times when you fall in love with a certain plant or flower and it makes its way into your home. To protect your pets from possible toxic florals, be sure to keep them out of reach in places where furry paws can’t get to them. Hanging planters, high shelves, and closed-off areas are all good solutions. Also, it’s important to recognize the signs of poisoning in your pet so you can act accordingly. If your dog or cat has ingested something toxic, symptoms include excessive drooling, vomiting, gastrointestinal distress, lethargy, racy heart, and loss of appetite. If one or more of these symptoms persist, take your pet to the vet for proper care. If you would like to know more about plants and flowers to keep away from your pets, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website.

With the above list of pet-friendly flowers and plants and a little common sense, you can enjoy the best of both worlds by surrounding yourself with gorgeous florals and greenery and a furry friend or two.