Flowers are among the most beautiful creations found on this Earth, but that doesn’t mean that they are all safe to interact with. Many of the beautiful plants found around us can actually be quite dangerous for humans and our curious dog friends. We can’t blame the flower for protecting itself from being eaten by a pet on a stroll, but we can educate ourselves on flowers to avoid letting our dogs be near. Different areas of the country have different risks to be aware of. Fortunately for us, the good people at LoveYourDog.com have taken a look at each of the 50 states’ official flowers to better inform us of the dangers that could be found.
It was a narrow margin, but thankfully most state flowers are not toxic to dogs. 26 states - including Alabama and our state flower, Camellia - are harmless when it comes to our furry friends. 22 states were found to have flowers that are guaranteed to be unsafe for our pets and two states (Alaska and Hawaii) were deemed to have flowers with the potential to be toxic. The study used a seed list from Telaflora and information on animal poison data from the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) to bring these statistics forward.
Camellias are safe for consumption in nearly every aspect. Stems, leaves, and the plant itself are all non-toxic - experts just recommend that you don’t let your dog eat too many. This could cause vomiting and diarrhea, but more due to overeating than to the plant itself. Camellias are known for their beautiful blooms and colorful displays, so we can see why they would tempt a hungry dog - but control is key! Our neighbors to the left and right both had safe plants; Mississippi with the Magnolia and Georgia with the Cherokee Rose. Our other neighbors to the North and South, Tennessee and Florida, were found to be toxic. Tennessee’s state flower is the Iris while Florida claims the Orange Blossom.
There were some interesting patterns that appeared during the study, which can be helpful for cautious dog owners visiting new states. For example, all roses were safe for consumption (besides the thorns) while most plants with flowering fruits tended to be toxic. Flowers that had the state’s name in their name such as the California Poppy and Texas Bluebonnet were deemed toxic as well.
Alabama residents take great pride in our state’s natural beauty, and it’s good to know that it’s fairly safe to enjoy as well.
Cover image by Anna Zhilina
