Did you know May is National Pet Month in the United States?
May is officially here! A month of Spring Flowers, Mother’s Day and a month to cherish our four-legged furry friends!
As florists, you may have been asked the question time and time again, what flowers or plants are safe around animals?
Every pet owner knows their furry friend will chew on anything it can get into, and at some point it will gravitate towards plants and flowers. As beautiful as plants and flowers are, some can be particularly dangerous to our furry companions. Pets are members of the family, so the last thing we want is for them to get sick from flowers or plants that are toxic to them.
Of course, as florists, you don’t want customers who have pets to stay entirely away from all flower arrangements and plants, but it is good to be aware of what plants and flowers are toxic.
We hope this Florist Guide to Pet-Friendly Flowers and Plants are useful for your floral business and your customers!
Image via Shutterstock
Top Toxic Flowers and Plants
Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Azalea
Baby’s Breath (toxic to dogs, safe for cats)
Begonia
Birds of Paradise
Carnation
Chrysanthemum
Daffodils
Dieffenbachia
Eucalyptus
Iris
Ivy
Mother in Law’s Tongue/Snake Plant
Narcissus
Oleander
Poinsettia
Tulips
Wisteria
Image via Shutterstock
Top Pet-Friendly Flowers and Plants
Aster
Alstroemeria
Daisies
Fern Varieties
*Lilies (safe for dogs, toxic to cats)
Marigolds
Orchids
Pansies
Petunia
Roses
Snapdragons
Sunflowers
Spider Plant this
Violets
Zinnia
Image via Shutterstock
Signs and Symptoms of Flower and Plant Toxicity
If you suspect that a pet has ingested a toxic plant or flowers, please contact your vet right away. Here are some signs:
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Nausea
For a full and complete listing of toxic and non-toxic plants, we recommend the ASPCA website for more information.
When customers are ordering flowers or a plant for a pet-friendly household, just take a few extra minutes to check the list! This will help strengthen the relationship between you and the customer and provides confidence to keep them coming back.
Florists, do you get asked a lot what is pet-friendly? What do you offer your customers when asked this question? Please share your thoughts and comments below!
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Although the ASPCA says poinsettias are “toxic” they actually are not. Some animals may have a reaction but it is not deadly – kind of like drinking or eating too much.
I suppose the article looks at plants that are friendly to dogs and cats. Keep in mind that if you grow insects, you should also check the pesticides used to treat the flowers. Birds also have allergens. Be careful with the animals 🙂
Last week I bought a puppy at my home. Being a flower lover I was worried about my dog as these flowers might harm him.
Thanks for sharing the article as I got a lot of information from here.
We are also having a Rot Weller Puppy in our home who break all the plants at home. People saying it is because they have itching issue in their mouth. But your article is good as we can place those plants which do not harm our puppies
A post about all the things that i love. Nature and animals are your best friends and giving us such great knowledge about them is such a great thing. Thanks for sharing it with us. Thanks.
Very interesting