A home filled with fresh-cut flowers and thriving green plants is one that is happy, healthy, and stylish. Since it’s well known having living plants and fresh flowers in the home provide many health benefits, decorating homes with them is a regular part of modern living now. Plus, the pop of color and sweet fragrance plants and flowers provide is the most natural way to freshen a home. As many of us are also pet owners, it’s important to keep our fur babies safe by bringing into our home as many pet-friendly plants and flowers as possible.

Here at Rose Hill Florist,  we love being surrounded by fresh flowers and plants and we also want to make sure our pets stay safe, too. Therefore, we have put together a list of our favorite flowers and plants that are pet-friendly and safe to have in the home

Safe Plants & Flowers for Pets

Parlor Palm

Add some energy, texture, and vivaciousness to any room of your house with a Parlor Palm plant. Long, arching fronds that separate into many smaller leaflets spring out of a single trunk. This rainforest native is easy to care for and can grow to 4 ft. indoors. The Parlor Palm is a pet-friendly plant and can survive in even lot-lit rooms.

Bird’s Nest Fern

Another plant that has great texture, rhythm, and movement is the Bird’s Nest Fern. Its light green leaves grow from a central rosette and have crinkled edges. The Bird’s Nest Fern is not toxic to pets and is a wonderfully unique houseplant to have in your home.

Ponytail Palm

For something a little more whimsical, pick up a Ponytail Palm. This fabulous plant is actually a succulent and stores water in its trunk. Long, skinny green leaves grow out of the top of the trunk and cascade down in waves much like an actual ponytail, which is how it got its name. Ponytail Palms are safe for pets and add character to any room.

Haworthia / Echeveria

For all the succulent lovers out there, you’ll be happy to discover that Haworthia and Echeveria varieties are perfectly pet-friendly. However, other types of succulents, such as Jade plants, Kalanchoe, and Aloe Vera, must be kept far away from your fur babies.

Polka Dot Plant

Brighten your home with the colorful Polka Dot Plant. This unique plant has large green leaves decorated with colorful “dots” as is splashed with a paintbrush. Polka Dot Plants are pet-friendly and come in color combos of pink, white, or red “dots.”

Watermelon Peperomia

A small, but charming, plant, the Watermelon Peperomia has ornamental leaves decorated with a pattern resembling the exterior of a watermelon. Eye-catching and beautiful, the Watermelon Peperomia is safe for pets.

Roses

Perfect in so many ways…. its shape, scent, variety of colors, and universal symbol of love, the rose is also pet-friendly. There really is no reason to not love this bloom, which is probably why it’s also the most popular flower in the world.

Gerbera Daisies

Coming in a variety of bright colors, Gerbera Daisies are loved by florists and gardeners alike. Their broad face and radiating petals just spread joy. Gerbera Daisies are also safe for pets, which is why we love them too.

Sunflowers

An instant mood boost, pick up some sunflowers. They will brighten any room along with your spirits. These lovely blooms capture the essence of summer and joy. Sunflowers are pet-friendly and bring joy and warmth to your home.

Snapdragons

Snapdragons have tall stalks with numerous delicate and colorful blooms covering the top portion. These wonderful blooms are often featured in flower arrangements because they bring volume, height, and an explosion of color. Snapdragons are pet-friendly and look great in a vase on their own as well.

Orchid

Orchid lovers will be pleased to know that orchids are not toxic to pets. A truly remarkable plant, the orchid has dramatic, perfectly balanced, and colorful blossoms that are striking to behold. It’s hard to have just one orchid plant.

Pansies

Pansies are charming, pretty, and not at all toxic. In fact, pansies are edible and are often found on wedding cakes for decoration – and to eat. Pansies grow in a variety of colors and can bloom in cold weather.

How to Protect Pets from Toxic Plants & Flowers

If you one, or several, pets that like to get into things, then it would be wise to have only pet-friendly plants and flowers, like the above, in your home. But that might not always prevent poisoning in your pet. For example, there are bound to be some plants or flowers you’ll fall in love with that may not be pet-friendly, or perhaps your pet gets into a toxic plant in the backyard or nearby park.

It’s also possible for your pet to ingest something laying around the house that is poisonous, such as medications, batteries, raisins, chocolate, or pesticides. For a comprehensive list of poisonous plants and flowers, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website. In the meantime, be sure to keep all possible toxic items far out of reach of any curious paws. If you notice any signs of gastrointestinal stress along with vomiting, excessive drooling, dehydration, lethargy, loss of appetite, or a racing heart, it could be poisoning so take your pet to the vet right away.