Common Flowers that are Toxic to Pets

Hey y’all! So I know that everyone is looking for just the right gift for the Mom in their life, and being a Mom myself, I’d say you can never go wrong with a bouquet of flowers! There’s just something cheery about flowers that makes everyone smile. So go ahead and get your Mom, wife, or just someone special in your life (why not!) a gift of flowers! Just make sure that if they have pets, try to avoid some of these flowers. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend Mother’s Day, (or any other day) at the vet because your precious little ball of fur got his fill of the flowers too. So scroll down for the list of flowers to avoid, and check out this awesome post about safe flowers to use instead!

Flowers Toxic to Pets #1 – Bulbs

Heads up… most bulbs are toxic to pets. Especially the actual bulb part of the plant. In cut flowers, this includes hyacinths, iris, tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, lilies, and gladiolas. And because a picture is worth a thousand words, here are the main ones you should avoid in your bouquet…

#2 – Mums and Dahlias

I know that these are some of the most common flowers found in bouquets. But yes, they are indeed toxic to pets. And remember that these flowers can look quite different depending on the variety, so if you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask the florist for proper identification! *Mums are short for chrysanthemums… florists will call them by both names…

#3 – Low Toxicity Flowers

These two flowers may not be deadly, but they are still worth avoiding if your pet likes to nibble on your plants. These are baby’s breath and carnations. I know, I know… Two more insanely common bouquet flowers…

#4 – Potted Plants

Though not technically cut flowers, I thought I should throw these two flowering plants in just to be safe. Some of the most common potted plants that are sold for Mother’s Day (and for several other holidays) are azaleas and gardenias. Though they are extremely beautiful, they are also toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach of curious pets, or should only be kept indoors (or outdoors, depending on your pet’s situation). An added tip, however, is that azaleas and gardenias are extremely difficult to keep as an indoor plant. For other options in plant-giving, check out my post on non-toxic houseplants for pets. The plants in this post are generally easier to keep alive and your pet-owner will thank you!

So that’s my list of cut flowers that are toxic to pets! Make sure to check out this helpful post that will tell you which flowers you should buy for pet-owners! It also includes a FREE Printout that you can use as a handy reminder when purchasing flowers! So enjoy this little freebie and please leave any further questions or comments below!

Happy Digging!