Filling your pet-friendly home with pet-friendly blooms is important to keep our furry friends healthy. From their playful paws to curious noses, sometimes your favorite flowers are also their favorite toys. To ensure you are creating the best environment for your dogs and cats, as well as for you, your friends here at Boyd’s Flowers, the top florist in Wilmington, are sharing our favorite flowers that are safe for pets. From classic favorites like sunflowers to exotic options like African violets, both you and your furry friend will love admiring their beauty.

Safe Flowers for Pets

Sunflowers

A symbol of joy, positivity, optimism, and happiness, sunflowers radiate uplifting inspiration. Like 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.

Orchid

A once exotic and rare flowering plant, orchids are not one of the most popular blooms that can be found in many pet-friendly environments. Rich in symbolism, including love, luxury, elegance, wealth, good fortune, and fertility, orchids are the perfect gift for pet-parents celebrating occasions such as Mother’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, or “just because.” Orchids are also a lovely flower for your own home as they can stay in bloom for weeks.

Pansies

Pansies are among uniquely colored blooms with lively patterns found on their petals or “faces.” Of the many reasons we love pansies, one being they are harmless to our fur babies, they are also able to thrive in cooler temperatures brought by fall, early winter, and spring. This means that you can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of pansies all year long, especially if you display them in an east-facing window during the summer and ensure they stay hydrated.

Zinnias

You may recognize zinnias by their signature round faces and bright tropical hues, like red and orange. However, when arranged with the lesser-known yet complementary pale-colored varieties, including yellow, green, and white, they create the most delightful floral design. Bring home a bouquet of pet-friendly zinnias in a variety of colors to liven up your space and lift your mood.

African Violet

African Violets are a small yet sweet addition to brighten up any space, especially if displayed on your kitchen windowsill. As one of the most popular houseplants, these blooms have been cherished for centuries and bring a sense of charm, nostalgia, and childhood memories to those who remember them from their grandmother’s home. In the right environment, these pet-approved flowers can grace us with their presence and ruffled petals all year round.

How to Protect your Pets from Toxic Flowers

Protecting your pets against harmful plants and flowers can be tricky if you are unsure what types can make your dog or cat sick. It is always a good idea to display your blooms in areas inaccessible to furry paws. Here at Boyd’s Flowers, we suggest creating a designated plant space on a patio, in a screened-in area, or other blocked-off location where they can be admired but hard for Fido to get to. Other creative ideas include hanging your blooms to create a fun and eye-catching wall display or utilizing tall shelving.