--- title: "Pet-safe flowers: which flowers are toxic to cats and dogs | Floreboard" url: https://floreboard.com/en/guides/pet-safe-flowers/ language: en last_reviewed: 2026-10-31 publisher: Floreboard --- # Pet-safe flowers for cats and dogs Before sending flowers to a home with pets: common cut flowers that are highly toxic to cats or mildly toxic to cats and dogs, and what florists can do. ## Highly toxic to cats - [Lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lily/) - [Lily of the valley](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lilyvalley/) - [Azalea](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/azalea/) - [Daylily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hemerocallis/) For florists ## Turn this guide into a client design We fill in the brief from this page. No stock yet? Load the sample flowers and see a recipe, quote and preview image in about a minute. New shops get 30 free credits. Try it as a design — free ## Mildly toxic to cats and dogs - [Hydrangea](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hydrangea/) - [Tulip](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/tulip/) - [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) - [Bird of paradise](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/strelitzia/) - [Tree peony](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/peony/) - [Peony (herbaceous)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/herbaceous-peony/) - [Chrysanthemum](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/chrysanthemum/) - [Narcissus (daffodil)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/narcissus/) - [Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/amaryllis/) - [Iris](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/iris/) - [Delphinium](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/delphinium/) - [Anemone](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/anemone/) - [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/) - [Monstera leaf](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/monstera/) - [Winterberry](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/redbean/) - [Calla lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/calla/) - [Hyacinth](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hyacinth/) - [Gardenia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gardenia/) - [Lavender](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lavender/) - [Dahlia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/dahlia/) - [Anthurium](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/anthurium/) - [Clematis](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/clematis/) - [Lupin](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lupin/) - [Poppy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/poppy/) - [Daisy (marguerite)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/daisy/) - [Wisteria](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/wisteria/) - [Heavenly bamboo (nandina)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/nandina/) - [Asparagus fern](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/asparagus/) - [Ivy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/ivy/) - [Holly](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/holly/) - [Ranunculus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/ranunculus/) - [Gladiolus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gladiolus/) - [Sweet pea](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/sweetpea/) - [Hellebore](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hellebore/) - [Allium](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/allium/) - [Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/ornithogalum/) - [Hypericum berries](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hypericum/) - [Hosta leaves](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hosta/) - [Chinese iris](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/irislactea/) - [Red spider lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lycoris/) - [Hardy begonia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/begonia/) - [Sacred lily (rohdea)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rohdea/) - [Winter daphne](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/daphne/) - [Oriental bittersweet](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/celastrus/) - [Ti plant (cordyline)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/cordyline/) ## Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs | Flower | ASPCA entry (scientific name) | Vase life | In season | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/) | Rosa species | 5–7 days | Year-round | | [Sunflower](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/sunflower/) | Helianthus | 6–10 days | Summer | | [Gerbera daisy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gerbera/) | Gerbera jamesonii | 6–10 days | Year-round | | [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/) | Phalaenopsis sp. | 10–21 days | Year-round | | [Camellia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/camellia/) | Camellia japonica | 3–5 days | Winter | | [Zinnia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/zinnia/) | Zinnia species | 5–7 days | Summer, Autumn | | [Celosia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/celosia/) | Celosia spicata | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | | [Snapdragon](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/snapdragon/) | Antirrhinum majus | 7–10 days | Spring | | [China aster](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/aster/) | Callistephus chinensis | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | | [Alstroemeria](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/alstroemeria/) | Alstroemeria | 10–14 days | Year-round | This list holds only flowers we checked one by one against the ASPCA's own pages (on 2026-10-05), so it is short; absence from it does not mean a flower is toxic. Three cautions: ASPCA entries are for specific species — the orchid entry, for example, covers only Phalaenopsis; non-toxic does not mean edible, and any plant can cause vomiting or diarrhoea if enough is eaten; and a single lily in a mixed bouquet makes the whole bouquet dangerous in a home with cats. ## What florists can do - Ask whether the recipient has cats or dogs, and keep it in the client profile. - Homes with cats: avoid lilies, lily of the valley and azalea entirely; for other toxic flowers, advise keeping them out of reach. - Floreboard automatically avoids flowers a client's pets cannot be around and flags them in its design review. ## FAQ ### Which flowers are most dangerous for cats? Lily, Lily of the valley, Azalea, Daylily. True lilies (Lilium) are especially dangerous: small amounts of petals, pollen or even vase water can cause acute kidney failure in cats. ### Is a calla lily a true lily? No. Calla lilies are not Lilium, but they are still mildly toxic to cats and dogs. ### Which flowers are safe for cats and dogs? Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and checked by us entry by entry: rose, sunflower, gerbera daisy, orchids (cut), camellia, zinnia, celosia, snapdragon, china aster, alstroemeria. Non-toxic does not mean edible — eating a lot of any plant can still upset the stomach. ### If a flower is not on this list, is it safe? Not necessarily. This list only covers flowers we have flagged; check the ASPCA list for the exact species or ask a vet. Last reviewed: 2026-10-31. Pet toxicity follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list. [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants)