Don’t Let Your Flowers Harm Your Pet: 10 Flowers to Avoid for the Chinese New Year
🧧 10 Flowers That Can Be Harmful to Pets 🐾
A Lunar New Year Safety Guide for Pet Parents in Hong Kong
Key Takeaways
- Many common Lunar New Year flowers can be toxic to pets
- Learn to identify dangerous plants and their symptoms
- Choose pet-safe alternatives like orchids for CNY celebrations
The Lunar New Year is here, and buying flowers to welcome the spring is a favorite tradition for many people. Flowers symbolize wealth and prosperity, and add joy to your home. However, have you ever thought about how your flowers affect your pets?
⚠️ Important: Some flowers are "deadly traps" for pets, containing toxins that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and other symptoms if cats and dogs accidentally eat them. In severe cases, they may even endanger their lives.
10 Dangerous Flowers to Watch Out For
The following 10 kinds of flowers are poisonous to pets, and may cause different degrees of harm, or even death, if cats and dogs eat them. Therefore, it is recommended that pet owners, if they buy these flowers, should place them as high as possible or where pets cannot reach, to reduce the risk.
1. Lily (Lilium spp. & Hemerocallis spp.) — Extremely dangerous to cats
Why they're dangerous: Even a tiny amount—leaf, petal, pollen, or vase water—can cause acute kidney failure in cats.
Pets affected: Cats (dogs usually get only mild GI upset)
Symptoms in cats: Vomiting, lethargy, no appetite → kidney failure within 24–72 hours
Safety tip: Absolutely avoid lilies in homes with cats.
2. Azalea / Rhododendron
Why they're dangerous: Contain grayanotoxins affecting the GI and cardiovascular systems.
Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, heart rhythm changes
Severity: Moderate to severe depending on amount eaten
3. Daffodil (Narcissus)
Why dangerous: Bulbs contain lycorine, an irritant.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain; with large doses → low blood pressure, tremors
Severity: Mild to moderate
4. Hyacinth
Why dangerous: Bulbs are the most irritating.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
Severity: Mild to moderate
💡 Not typically associated with seizures or severe bleeding.
5. Chrysanthemum
Why dangerous: Contains pyrethrins.
Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea; skin irritation if touched
Severity: Usually mild
6. Hydrangea
Why dangerous: Contains cyanogenic glycosides.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Severity: Usually mild–moderate with household exposure
7. Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Why dangerous: Irritating compounds in the plant.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea
Severity: Mild
8. Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Why dangerous: Contains saponins, which irritate the GI tract.
Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea
Severity: Mild
💡 Does not cause "emotional distress" or blood vomiting as sometimes claimed.
9. Rohdea japonica (萬年青)
Why dangerous: Causes oral irritation.
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting
Severity: Mild
💡 Not known to cause kidney or liver failure.
10. Gladiolus (Sword Lily)
Why dangerous: Mild GI irritant.
Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling
Severity: Mild
💡 No evidence for heart or nervous system toxicity in pets.
🚨 If Your Pet Eats a Potentially Toxic Flower
Stay calm — then act quickly.
- Remove any plant material from their mouth.
- Take a photo of the plant (super helpful for vets).
- Monitor for symptoms: vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea.
- Call a vet immediately, especially if you have lilies and cats.
- Do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed by a veterinarian.
Hong Kong pet parents can also call your regular vet or nearest 24-hour emergency clinic.
🥗 Keep Your Pets Safe & Healthy
Beyond avoiding toxic flowers, proper nutrition is essential for your pet's wellbeing. Furry Green offers fresh, upcycled pet food made with wholesome ingredients that support your furry friend's health.
Explore Fresh Pet Food🌸 A Safe & Stunning Choice for Lunar New Year: ORCHIDS
Good news — most orchids (especially Phalaenopsis) are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs according to ASPCA.
Why orchids are perfect for pet-friendly homes:
- ✨ Non-toxic to pets
- ✨ Long-lasting blooms
- ✨ Elegant, modern aesthetic
- ✨ Low pollen (great for humans with allergies)
- ✨ Available everywhere in Hong Kong during CNY
Even though orchids are safe, pets can still get stomach upset if they chew on any plant, so keep them out of reach if your dog or cat loves snacking on greenery.
🌱 Pet-Safe Flower & Plant List
These are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs:
Safe Flowers
- Orchids (Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Dendrobium)
- Roses (without thorns)
- Sunflowers
- Marigolds (mild GI upset possible if eaten, but not toxic)
- Gerbera daisies
- Asters
- Zinnias
Safe Greenery
- Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea)
- Spider plant
- Areca palm
- Boston fern
🎉 Final Thoughts
Bringing fresh flowers home is a beautiful way to celebrate Lunar New Year — and with a little knowledge, you can choose decorations that are safe for every family member, furry ones included.
Choosing orchids and other safe blooms lets you enjoy a festive, elegant space without worry.
Wishing you and your pets a joyful, healthy, and prosperous New Year! 🧧🐾🌸
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if my cat eats a lily?
Remove any plant material from their mouth immediately, then call your vet or emergency clinic right away. Lily poisoning in cats is a medical emergency—even small amounts can cause acute kidney failure within 24-72 hours. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Time is critical for successful treatment.
Are all types of orchids safe for pets?
Most common orchids like Phalaenopsis (moth orchids), Cymbidium, and Dendrobium are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs according to ASPCA. However, while they won't poison your pet, chewing on any plant can still cause mild stomach upset. Always monitor your pets around plants and keep orchids out of reach if your pet is a habitual plant chewer.
Can I keep toxic flowers if I place them high up away from my pets?
While placing flowers out of reach reduces risk, it's not foolproof—especially for cats who can jump high or dogs who may knock things over. Pollen can fall onto surfaces, and even vase water from lilies is toxic to cats. For maximum safety during Lunar New Year, we recommend choosing pet-safe alternatives like orchids instead of taking chances with toxic flowers.
📚 Citations & Reliable References
Veterinary Toxicology Resources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Plant Database → https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
- Pet Poison Helpline → https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
- eClinPath Toxicology (Cornell University) → https://eclinpath.com/chemistry/toxicology/
- Plumlee, K. Clinical Veterinary Toxicology. (Elsevier)
- Osweiler, G. Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Clinical Companion—Small Animal Toxicology.
Lily toxicity in cats
- Hall, J. et al. "Lily ingestion in cats: A review." Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.