Houseplants and flowers in a vase are real mood boosters for your home.
They’re said to have a positive effect on our mood, purify the air, and even help us sleep better. We simply find them beautiful. But as cat and dog parents, we’re very selective about which greenery we bring into our home. There are more than 700 (!) types of plants that are toxic to dogs and/or cats — think lilies, tulips, daffodils, hydrangeas, and mistletoe. The list is far too long to name them all, so in this article we’ll mainly focus on which flowers and plants are safe for our furry friends.
When we moved into our current apartment, there was a grapevine in the garden. It had beautiful green leaves and small grapes were growing in abundance. Because of our pets, we decided to remove it completely. Luckily, our landlord was able to replant the roots, and now the grapevine continues to bloom in her garden.
It may sound drastic, but if you’ve read our blog “What should dogs never eat”, you’ll know that grapes are extremely toxic for dogs — and for cats too. Our Stitch has actually never shown any interest in flowers or plants, except for grass. Our four cats, on the other hand, are practically little rodents when it comes to anything green. A pot of cat grass is gone within half an hour 🙄.
Even if your furry friend leaves your plants alone, it’s still good to know which greenery is safe for pets.
Safe Houseplants:
- Aspidistra elatior (Cast iron plant)
- All Calathea species
- Boston fern (Pteropsida)
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) — don’t confuse it with lilies, which are very toxic!
- Pilea peperomioides (Chinese money plant)
- Banana plant
- Phalaenopsis orchid
- Baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
- Cat grass (also safe for dogs!)
Safe Flowers:
- Sunflower
- Rose (watch out for thorns!)
- Gerbera
- Snapdragon
- Freesia
- Lisianthus
The Garden
Herbs are a great way to brighten up your garden — and the ones below are safe for your pets and tasty for us:
- Parsley
- Basil
- Coriander
- Dill
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Lemon balm
Of course, your pet shouldn’t be grazing in your herb garden all day. Eating too much can lead to excessive vomiting, stomach pain, or skin irritation (especially with parsley). And for our own sake, it’s nice if they don’t use the herb bed as a toilet 💩
Note: Avoid the Allium family (like chives, leeks, onions, garlic, and shallots) — they’re all toxic!
Safe Garden Plants:
- China aster (Callistephus chinensis)
- Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)
- African daisy (Dimorphotheca pluvialis)
- Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica)
- Fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla)
- Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Zinnia
- Bamboo
Other Garden Tips:
- Almost all flower bulbs are toxic to pets. Even though they’re underground, cats and dogs can easily dig them up;
- Cocoa shells are sometimes used as mulch or for weed control — but they contain theobromine, which is extremely dangerous for pets;
- Thorns and spines on plants or hedges can cause injury, especially if they’re at your pet’s eye level;
- Use pet- and eco-friendly fertilizers, plant food, and weed killers;
- Slugs can harm your plants and carry lungworm, which can infect your pets; Always choose non-toxic, pet-safe ways to control them — and note that sage, thyme, nasturtium, and ferns naturally repel them 👍.
You can absolutely make your home and garden green without putting your pets at risk. However, outside your home — in the woods, parks, or other people’s gardens — it’s harder to control what plants your dog encounters.
Eating or chewing certain flowers or plants can be harmful or even deadly. They can also cause skin issues like rashes or swelling around the mouth, tongue, or gums — or even burns from contact with giant hogweed.
Symptoms of Plant Poisoning (in cats and dogs):
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy, low energy
- Vomiting or diarrhea (check for plant bits)
- Blood in the stool
- Excessive drinking and urination
- Skin rash and/or redness
- Mouth ulcers
- Pale gums
- Muscle tremors or seizures
- Weakness or collapsing
- Breathing difficulties
Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic plant or flower.
Note: Every animal reacts differently, and the amount eaten matters. Dogs can go a few days without food (as long as they drink enough), but cats can only go 1–2 days before liver damage can occur.
Additional Tips:
- Choose plants that are free from chemical pesticides — especially cat grass;
- Even with safe plants and flowers, eating too much can cause vomiting and stomach upset. Limit access and offer small amounts as a treat instead;
- Cats sometimes drink from flower vases — but the nutrient packets that come with bouquets can be harmful. So, keep vases out of reach.
In Conclusion
This article isn’t meant to make you throw out all your “unsafe” plants — especially if your pet doesn’t show any interest in them. You know your furry friend best. What’s important is being able to recognize the signs of poisoning and keeping in mind that your pet can’t tell the difference between safe and toxic plants.
We decided to play it safe and moved almost all of our plants out of reach — hanging from the ceiling or placed high on shelves, especially the ones that look tempting to our four little nibblers. Even if they’re safe, I’d rather not spend my day cleaning up 🤮.
Now we just need to find a nice replacement for the grapevine...
So go ahead — fill your home with greenery, but choose safe greenery 🐶😺🌿
Sources:
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/grow-fresh-air-plants-are-safe-cats-and-dogs
- https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/plants-poisonous-to-dogs
- https://www.animaltrust.org.uk/blog/pet-friendly-garden/
- https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/poisonous-plants
- https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list
- https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list