10 of the Safest Flowers for Dogs You Can Buy or Grow

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This post was originally published in February 2018 and was updated in February 2020.

So you love flowers—and you have an adorable dog with an unstoppable sense of curiosity. We can relate!

Before you start building your dream garden, keep in mind that a lot of plants are unsafe for pets. But never fear, there are plenty of beautiful varieties of safe flowers for dogs that you can enjoy without worrying about whether your dog decides to dig into them. These ten flowers are safe for dogs, even though not exactly an ideal doggy snack.

Many of these blossoms are edible and can make a colorful and tasty addition to a salad. Rose petals, violets, sunflower petals, pansies, snapdragons, and some marigolds can all be eaten raw, by dogs and people. A word of caution: it’s essential to make sure your flowers aren’t treated with insecticides, fungicides, or weed-killers, as those are poisons that can cause you and your dog serious harm.

While shopping for safe flowers for dogs, take along the following list of dog-friendly plants along with the list of which plants are dangerous for dogs. While you’re out plant shopping, if you find an exciting new plant friend, you can even search Rover’s extensive guide on poisonous plants to dogs and cats to check if it’s safe for your pet.

10 of the Safest Flowers for Dogs You Can Buy or Grow

Roses

Classic and beautiful, roses are always a crowd-pleaser, and thankfully, they are perfectly safe flowers for dogs. In fact, you can sprinkle rose petals onto your salad for a gourmet touch. Rosehips, the fruits that come from rose flowers, are safe for dogs and people, too. Some, like the dog in this youtube video, love them. Just be aware that the thorns on rose bushes can be painful, so don’t let your dog chew on rose branches.

African Violets

These flowers come in an array of colors, from blue to pink to soft yellow and violet (just to name a few). They’re also easy to care for and won’t poison curious dogs who can’t resist chomping on their vibrantly-hued petals.

Violets are generally purchased as live plants, rather than being planted from seed. This means that they may be treated with fertilizers and possibly other agricultural chemicals that can make them less safe to eat.

Snapdragons

Looking for a lovely annual to add to your yard? Bright, boisterous snapdragons are another safe flower for dogs. Not only do they add some serious charm to homes and gardens, they’re also non-toxic for your pet.

The safest way to grow snapdragons is from seed so you can ensure that your flowers are free of fertilizers and pesticides that are unsafe for pets.

Orchids

Gorgeous and occasionally difficult to cultivate, these flowers come in a plethora of varieties and hybrids that are generally non-toxic for pups. Best to visit one of the numerous websites about the flower, though, just to ensure you’re growing one of the safe ones.

Orchids are purchased as potted plants, and fertilizer is important to keeping them in good condition. Keep in mind that many plant fertilizers are not safe for dogs.

Garden Marigolds

So long as your dog doesn’t take more than a few nibbles of this flower (which would cause an upset stomach, at worst), marigolds are safe flowers for dogs that add a pop of color to your garden or indoor pots. Some marigold varieties are tasty, while others taste like bitter carrots.

Pansies

Lively and sweet, these wonderful flowers are not only non-toxic for dogs, they’re apparently also tasty. Pansies come in a rainbow of colors including blue, white, yellow, red, orange, and purple, so there’s something to please everyone.

Pansies, which are close relatives of violets, can be purchased as live plants or grown from seed.

Petunias

Keep your yard smelling sweet with the help of super-fragrant petunias that easily blossom in containers and ground beds. Boasting beauty, vibrancy, and an amazing scent, these blooms really have it all, and it’s okay if your dog takes a bite.

As members of the nightshade family, petunia flowers are not a good choice for edible flowers for humans.

Sunflowers

Love the way that freshly cut sunflowers look on your dining room table? Well, rest easy, because these golden beauties are safe flowers for dogs and cats, so you can keep enjoying their charming, cheerful appearance. This is not to say that too much won’t bother their tummies–but overall these beauties are a safe bet.

Sunflowers are giant daisies and grow easily from seed in sunny spots. Sunflower blossoms are a great way to attract birds to your garden in the fall when they go to seed.

Zinnias

These annuals are safe for flower-munching canines, and they add a dash of quirky color that everyone can appreciate. (Plus, wouldn’t a dog named Zinnia be the cutest? Just saying.)

Zinnias are edible, are generally grown from seed by gardeners, and were among the first flowers to be grown in space! Cosmic!

Gerbera Daisies

Thank goodness these colorful classics are non-toxic for dogs as well. Bright and cheerful, daisies are a great gift for flower-loving dog owners. Or, well, anyone.

As with sunflowers, the petals of gerbera daisies are edible. Plants can be purchased from a nursery, or can be grown from seed in your garden.

Further Reading

Keep your fur children safe with Rover‘s exhaustive archive of stories about plants that are, and aren’t, safe to have in your home and yard.

• 15 Dog-Friendly Plants You Can Add to Almost Any Garden Right Now
• Plants That Are Safe for Dogs and Cats
• The 5 Most Poisonous Plants to Cats
• 9 Tips for Dog-Friendly Gardening
• The Rover Guide to Poisonous Plants to Dogs and Cats