What Flowers Can I Have That Are Not Harmful to Pets?

Annuals

• Annuals provide a way to experiment with different flowers without having to commit to the same scenery year after year. Pet-safe annuals include, but are not limited to, zinnias, marigolds and snapdragons. Zinnias, "Zinnia elegans," are sturdy annuals with blooms between 1 and 4 inches in diameter, available in shades ranging from green to pinks to purples, whites, reds and everything in between. Marigolds, "Tagtes spp.," are hardy bloomers with a bushy spread that come in yellow, orange or reddish blossoms. Snapdragons, "Antirrhinum majus," are available in all colors except blue and green and include bi-colored varieties. They are available in a number of sizes from smaller plants reaching a mere 6 inches tall to those that shoot up almost 4 feet.

Perennials

• Perennials are reliable plants, coming back year after year. Perennials safe for cats and dogs include, but are not limited to, roses, columbine and camellia. Roses, "Rosa spp.," are diverse plants that are recognized and grown around the world. Old world or heritage roses provide large, showy flowers once or twice a season while smaller, more frequently-blooming tea roses pack a fragrant punch. Columbine is an easy-growing perennial endemic to North America, Asia and Europe available in pink, purple and bluish shades. Camellia plants grow on evergreen shrubs and produce flowers from winter to spring. With more than 2,300 cultivars of camellia, there's no lack of options for gardeners who want pet-safe blooms and a colorful abundance of flowers.

Choosing Pet-Safe Flowers

• There are hundreds of flowers that are safe around both cats and dogs. Choosing pet-safe flowers for your garden means doing some research. Common names may be shared by wildly different plants, and what you think is a pet-safe plant could, in fact, turn out to be harmful. Learn the proper botanical names for your flowers and compare them to a list of pet-safe options. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides a comprehensive database of plants that are both toxic and non-toxic for cats, dogs and horses. Visit the ASPCA website for a comprehensive list.

Warning

• Even if a plant is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, your pet could still experience an adverse reaction upon contact or ingestion. Just like humans, individual cats and dogs can have allergies or sensitivities, even to safe plants. Since cats and dogs are primarily carnivores, the ingestion of a large amount of plant matter can cause gastrointestinal upset, including but not limited to diarrhea and vomiting. If your pet experiences an adverse reaction such as vomiting and severe diarrhea for more than a day, lethargy, stupor or swelling, seek emergency veterinary medical care. If possible, bring a sample of the plant with you to help aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the problem.