Pet-Safe Flowers and Plants

Have a cat or a dog at home, or sending flowers to someone who does? Most flowers are fine around pets, but a few are dangerous, and lilies are the worst of them for cats. Every flower on this page is listed as safe or toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Questions? Call the shop at 212-289-1677.

Ordering a pet-safe arrangement

Tell us the flowers are going to a home with pets. We'll do our best to leave out every flower that isn't pet-safe, or help you choose another arrangement. Call 212-289-1677 before or right after you order.

Our Phalaenopsis orchid plants are a simple pet-safe choice, because the ASPCA lists them as non-toxic to cats and dogs:

Flowers that are safe for cats and dogs

The ASPCA lists these flowers as non-toxic to both cats and dogs:

Roses
Orchids (Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Dendrobium and Oncidium)
Sunflowers
Gerbera daisies
Snapdragons
Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily, which is not a true lily)
Freesia
Stock
Lisianthus
Statice
Waxflower
Zinnias and asters

Plants that are safe for cats and dogs

For a houseplant, the ASPCA lists these as pet-friendly:

Phalaenopsis orchid
Spider plant
Boston fern
Parlor palm
Cast iron plant
African violet
Christmas cactus
Blue echeveria and donkey's tail (succulents)

Even a safe plant can upset a pet's stomach if it eats a lot of it, so keep flowers and plants out of reach when you can.

Lilies and cats

True lilies (Easter, Asiatic, Oriental, Stargazer and Tiger lilies) and daylilies can cause kidney failure in cats. Every part of the plant is toxic: the petals, the leaves, the pollen, and even the water in the vase. A cat can be poisoned just by grooming pollen off its fur. If a cat may have touched a lily, call a vet right away. Don't wait for signs. Lilies are not dangerous to dogs in the same way.

Flowers and plants that are not safe

The ASPCA lists these as toxic to cats, and many of them are toxic to dogs as well:

Lilies and daylilies (cats)
Lily of the valley
Calla lilies and peace lilies
Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths
Amaryllis
Hydrangeas
Chrysanthemums
Carnations
Peonies
Irises and gladiolus
Delphinium (larkspur) and foxglove
Dahlias
Eucalyptus
Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia
Houseplants: pothos, philodendron, monstera, snake plant, aloe, jade, kalanchoe, cyclamen, azalea and sago palm

If your pet eats a plant

Call your veterinarian, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. It's open 24 hours a day, and a consultation fee may apply. Have the name of the plant ready if you can.