Bouquets and flower arrangements are vital in any celebration. However, many flowers in common arrangements can be dangerous to dogs. So, when you’re designing an arrangement, you must be careful about which ones you choose. If you need to create dog-safe bouquets or flower arrangements for an upcoming event but aren’t sure what flowers to use, you’ve come to the right place. Here are several bouquets that will look fantastic and won’t be a danger to your pets.
The 5 Dog-Safe Bouquets Ideas Are:
1. The Anniversary Bouquet
- Bromeliad
- Boston Fern
- Hoya Obovata
- Swedish Ivy
The Anniversary Bouquet is a perfect example of how you can create an attractive, dog-friendly arrangement using fairly common plants. The highlight of this arrangement will be the bromeliad flowers, which are available in several colors. The other plants in this arrangement are green, but the shades and shapes complement each other perfectly. The hoya obovata, also known as a wax plant, has cascading vines with thick, succulent-like leaves. Swedish ivy is a trailing plant with small, rounded leaves with a lovely green color. It adds a cascading element to the bouquet and is easy to care for, making it a popular choice for indoor arrangements.
2. The Happy Birthday Bouquet
- Orchid
- Ponytail Palm
- Peperomia
The Happy Birthday Bouquet is a wonderful arrangement that is highly customizable due to the attractive flowers being available in nearly every color. The bouquet can represent a birth month, birth year, or another symbolic color. The ponytail palm is a unique and visually interesting plant with a bulbous trunk and long, cascading leaves resembling a ponytail, while peperomia plants have attractive, glossy leaves and come in various shapes and sizes. They are also easy to care for and can add a pop of green to the bouquet. Consider choosing a variety like Peperomia obtusifolia or Peperomia caperata for their appealing foliage, which can help your Happy Birthday Bouquet stand out.
3. Best Friends Bouquet
- Haworthia
- Friendship Plant
- Burro’s Tail
- African Violet
The Best Friends Bouquet symbolizes friendship and camaraderie, and the centerpiece is the African violet with its attractive purple blooms. The friendship plant has deeply textured leaves that make a perfect backdrop, especially combined with the haworthia plant’s attractive geometric leaves, which give the bouquet more depth. The burro’s tail will add the finishing touches to the bouquet with its trailing stems and teardrop-shaped leaves.
4. Housewarming Bouquet
- Areca Plant
- Banana Plant
- Gerbera Daisy
- Calathea
The Housewarming Bouquet is a bit more colorful than some others on this list, and it has a warming effect, as the name suggests. The main attraction is the gerbera daisies, small and attractive flowers that are available in many colors, so you can pick your favorite or get something that matches your interior. Also known as the butterfly palm, the areca plant has feathery, arching fronds that help create a welcoming atmosphere. Calathea plants are known for their intricately patterned leaves with bold colors and unique markings. These add texture and visual appeal to the bouquet while also purifying the air. The banana plant is particularly striking, with large, lush leaves that add height and visual interest to the arrangement, making it a standout piece.
5. The In-Laws Bouquet
- Venus Flytrap
- Polka Dot Plant
- Mosaic Plant
- Spider Plant
The In-Laws Bouquet is sure to spark up plenty of conversations. The high point of this arrangement is the addition of the Venus fly trap, a carnivorous plant known for its hinged leaves that capture insects. The collection also contains the spider plant, which looks great with its arching leaves and small plantlets that dangle from the stems, resembling spiders on a web. The mosaic plant has eye-catching mosaic-like patterns on its leaves, which add visual interest and texture, and it comes in various colors, including pink, white, and green. It represents the interconnectedness and beauty of family relationships. The polka dot plant has attractive spotted foliage that you can also find in various colors, such as pink, white, and green. It adds a playful and decorative element to the bouquet, symbolizing the joy and fun shared with family.
Dog-Safe Flowers to Use in Your Own Arrangements
Orchids
Orchids are elegant and exotic flowers that come in various colors and patterns. They look great and are safe for dogs, making them a beautiful addition to a dog-friendly flower arrangement.
African Violet
African violets are little flowering plants that come in various colors, though they are typically purple. They are safe for dogs and can add a splash of color and delicate beauty to any flower arrangement or bouquet.
Bromeliad
Bromeliads are tropical plants with unique rosette-shaped foliage and vibrant flowers that last a long time. While most varieties are non-toxic to dogs, it’s essential to check the type that you are using to ensure that it isn’t one of the poisonous varieties, which can include the Aechmea fasciata, Guzmania, and Vriesea.
Gerber Daisy
Gerbera daisies are cheerful flowers available in many colors and are non-toxic to dogs, enabling you to incorporate them into your dog-safe flower arrangement.
Boston Fern
Boston ferns are lush and feathery dog-safe plants that can thrive in humid environments. It’s perfect for filling out or accenting a bouquet.
Tips and Tricks
- Before bringing any new flowers or plants into your home, research their toxicity levels to ensure they are non-toxic to pets or have minimal risk if ingested.
- Place flower arrangements in areas inaccessible to your pets, or use elevated plant stands to keep them out of your pet’s reach.
- Some pets may like chewing on plants or flowers. Use deterrents like bitter sprays or pet-safe barriers to discourage them.
- Know the signs of plant poisoning in pets, and keep emergency contact numbers, such as those for your veterinarian or a veterinary poison control hotline, readily available.
- When introducing new flower arrangements or plants to the home, closely supervise your pet’s behavior around them. Redirect their attention if they show excessive interest in or attempt to chew on the plants.
- Offer your pets safe and appropriate chewing alternatives, such as pet-friendly chew toys or treats, to keep them occupied and less likely to chew on plants.
- Inspect your flower arrangements frequently, removing any wilted or fallen flowers or leaves within your pet’s reach.
Wrapping Up
Creating a bouquet or flower arrangement that is safe for dogs can be quite easy! Our favorites on this list include the Housewarming Bouquet and the In-Laws Bouquet, but any will look great, and they are suitable for more occasions than the names suggest, as many of the flowers are available in various colors. You can also try to create new arrangements from scratch using the list of dog-safe plants provided here.
