Are Decorative Rose Hips Dangerous to Pets?

Definition

• Rose hips develop on the plant after the flowers have fallen, usually as fall arrives. Depending on the species, the hips may be red, orange, yellow or even a deep purple. The hips are round or oval in shape and 1 inch or more in length.

Toxidity

• Rose hips are edible. Packed with vitamin C, they are often eaten by birds or small animals before the home gardener can even harvest them from the bush. Rose hips have a tart, tangy flavor and are used in jams. They can be eaten fresh or dried. Sometimes they are dried and used as decor. Because they are edible, they are not toxic or dangerous to pets.

Decoration

• Rose hips are sometimes added to potpourri or used in flower arrangements as a decorative addition. First, they must be dried to preserve them. To dry rose hips, cut the stems off of them and rinse them well. Then, lay them on a cookie sheet and set them out to dry in a cool, dark location.

Considerations

• Although rose hips are not dangerous to pets, other plants are. Often, home gardeners dry rose hips and use them as decorative accents in flower arrangements. These arrangements may contain other plants and flowers that are toxic to cats and dogs, such as the dried berries from chokecherry or chinaberry shrubs, or dried delphinium. Even ivy, which is often used in home decor, is poisonous. Many common houseplants are also dangerous to pets. Caladium and kalanchoe, for example, are both toxic if consumed.