Plants, flowers, and pets all play an inspiring role in livening up our homes. As many dual pet/plant parents or gardeners with fur babies can attest, ensuring that the botanicals you bring into the lives of your pets are safe can be stressful. So, to make things a little easier when it comes to choosing your next blooms or greens, the experts here at Allan’s Flowers, the best florist in Prescott, are sharing a list of some of the best flowers and plants that are safe for pets.
Safe Plants & Flowers for Pets
Bird’s Nest Fern
Safe for dogs and cats, bird’s nest ferns are one of the easiest ferns to take care of, as long as Fido keeps his paws and nose to himself. Even though these tropical plants are slow-growing and require low light, pay attention to proper watering and propagation needs. Their crimpy, squiggly, and fun textured leaves are a great addition to your bathroom or kitchen.
Ponytail Palm
A charming plant with numerous thin leaves that grow up and then fall downwards, resembling a ponytail, this plant may be irresistible to your pet to play with. Don’t worry, though, as ponytail palms won’t cause any harm to your pet.
Friendship Plant
A misconception about friendship plants is that since their leaves are velvety soft, they must be poisonous to pets. However, friendship plants are among the safest and friendliest to pets. Their often colorful and always specific pattern created by their veins and sometimes pink buds, make these houseplants another unique addition to your collection. As friendship plants thrive in terrariums, which can act as a safe haven from curious paws, they are ideal for pet-friendly spaces.
Roses
If your romantic partner is a pet parent, roses are still a safe and classic go-to bloom to show your affection. While snacking on rose petals is usually harmless to dogs and cats, it is of the utmost importance to be sure that the thorns have all been removed. As an elegant symbol of love, and non-toxic to the fur babies we adore, roses will always be perfect for anyone and remain a crowd-pleaser.
Snapdragons
A lovely and colorful annual for your backyard garden, this bloom also looks great in a floral arraignment with other buds or in a vase just by themselves. The charming, frilly flowers of the snapdragon grow in a wide array of colors and are non-toxic to your pet.
How to Protect your Pets from Toxic Plants & Flowers
To be sure that your collection of modern botanicals to help refresh and uplift your home are safe and harmless to your furry friends, check out the full guide on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website. In addition, it is always a smart idea to keep your flowers and plants out of reach of your pets, by displaying them in hanging baskets, on tall shelves, or in a designated screened-in area. In case your dog or cat does happen to encounter a toxic botanical, they may show signs of poisoning such as dehydration, loss of appetite, bleeding gums, drooling, vomiting, and lethargy. In this case, it is important to immediately contact your vet or closest animal hospital and consult poison control.