Pet parents, plant parents, and flower enthusiasts are often in search of the best greens and blooms that prove to be safe for furry friends. While there are countless types of botanicals that can be poisonous to pets, there are also numerous types that are safe for dogs and cats. To make your search for pet-friendly flowers and plants simple and easy, the experts here at Flower Kingdom, the top florist in Palm Beach Gardens, including our fluffy mascot, Zara, have rounded up a few of our personal favorites. Find peace in knowing that these plants and flowers will create a healthy environment for not only your fur babies but for you as well with their mood-boosting and air purifying properties.

Safe Plants & Flowers for Pets

Calathea Orbifolia

A tropical beauty with large oval leaves with silvery-green stripes on them, this is an exquisite house plant that needs partial shade. It’s perfect for the bedroom or on top of a bookshelf, and the Calathea Orbifolia is pet-friendly.

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.

Sunflowers

A symbol of joy, positivity, optimism, and happiness, sunflowers radiate uplifting inspiration. Similar to gerbera daisies, these sunny blooms are a pet-friendly and safe alternative to the not-so-pet-friendly chrysanthemum or common daisy. While sunflowers are typically harmless to our furry friends, if they nibble on these flowers too often, as with many non-poisonous blooms, they are likely to experience an upset stomach.

Pansies

While some enjoy garnishing their salads and desserts with the minty taste of pansies, since they are among the many edible flowers, your pets may also enjoy their refreshing flavor without it being toxic to their system. The heart-shaped petals of pansies can be found in an eclectic combination of colors and patterns, including red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple. This makes them a vibrant and fun addition to your garden or indoor floral collection.

African Violet

The easy-to-grow, low-maintenance African Violet produces lavender, pink, red, blue, and white ruffled blooms, and velvety green leaves all year long. While they have been loved by many since the 19th century, African Violets have grown to become one of the most popular blooming houseplants for decades, just ask your grandmother. Brighten up your kitchen with this nostalgic, pet-approved flower for a charming and lovely feel. 

How to Protect your Pets from Toxic Plants & Flowers

While selecting the perfect pet-friendly plants and flowers for your home is important, the next steps are displaying your botanicals out of reach and keeping your eyes open for signs of poisoning. Many plant parents enjoy creating a floral wall in their living room or a “greenhouse” out on their patio or porch to ensure there is no petal snacking or dirt-digging. In addition, look for signs of poisoning such as vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, drooling, bleeding gums, and loss of appetite. To complement the recommendations from Zara and the professionals here at Flower Kingdom, you can find a full list of harmful and non-harmful botanicals to animals on the ASPCA Poison Control Center website.

Mascot Zara in front of the flower coolers

Mascot Zara with a favorite colorful arrangement