TOXIC PLANTS FOR PETS
I have been working on re-doing my backyard in a way that is user pet-friendly for my dog Lovie and other four-legged furry visitors. [i.e.: neighborhood cats, squirrels, and birds. Yes, I realize that squirrels and wild birds are not pets, but I certainly do not want them to get poisoned in my yard. “Mama Cat”, the feral Siamese cat featured in the Cango tango logo used to be in our yard with her kittens and then by herself until her recent passing]. I have done a little research for my own yard. I wanted practical and pretty: (1) plants that would repel bugs without making animals sick, (2) plants that could grow well with varying levels of sun/shade and in the Bay Area, and (3) plants with vibrant colors from flowers are a plus, especially for the front yard (It will be a major step up from the weeds that blossom in the spring).
Based on my research, here are some plants to avoid (Check with your vet to reach your own comfort level.). Look for signs of lethargy, vomiting, drooling, dehydration, uncontrollable urination or thirst, and seizures as they may be signs that your pet has been exposed to something toxic like one of the plants listed below:
- Citronella, while highly effective against mosquitoes, is deadly to dogs (Citronella was my go-to spray until I found this out).
- Geraniums
- Some varieties of Marigolds
- Garlic plants (Bummer, so much for double duty for deterring vampires).
- Baby’s Breath (This seems to be the go-to filler for every florist, so this was a surprise to me).
- Azalea
- Tulips (their bulbs rather than cut flowers)
- Bird of Paradise (I guess the poster I have in my kitchen will be as close as I get to having this pretty plant on my property).
- Begonias
- Aloe (I love having an aloe plant around because the juice from the leaves helps for burns and cuts. I normally keep one on a window sill in the house out of reach, but I may reconsider).
- Chrysanthemum
- Clematis
- Daffodils (I really wanted to plant some in my yard… err.)
- Larkspur
- Iris (I am so bummed about this because I love the purple and yellow colors and painted a cabinet to match some that I had planned to fill with iris plants; well I may need to reconsider).
- Poinsettia (Some recommend to avoid it even in floral arrangements if you have pets which may be something you want to keep in mind around Christmas time).
- Oleander
- Narcissus
- Wisteria (This is a common decorative “weed” in the Bay Area and is a favorite of one of my godmothers who has always had dogs and a dog run for them. One of our neighbors planted some years ago and it still grows under the fence and into our basement even though we hacked off what was visible in both yards).
- Tiger lily (Another bummer because I think they are nice to look at and wanted to plant some).
- Easter lily (Common for the major spring holiday, so keep this in mind).
- Stargazer lily
- Rubrum lily
- Lily of the valley (Often associated with death and showcased at funeral homes).
- *Please note:Although some lilies as listed above may be safe for dogs, they are not for cats.
By contrast, here a list of flowers that are non-toxic to felines:
- Roses (Who said I never promised you a rose garden?… smile).
- Sunflowers
- Carnations
- Snapdragons (These are safe for dogs too and fun to play with as a plant puppet. Did you ever make them talk when you were a kid?)
- Gerbers
- Zinnias
- Statice
- Asters
- Alstroemeria
Here is a list of flowers that are non-toxic to dogs:
- Orchids (So pretty but I think that these can be high maintenance/ challenging to grow outside. I have seen these delicate plants thrive in very humid greenhouses).
- Celosia
- Rose (Roses are red and violets are blue and fortunately for you, you can plant the two.).
- African Violet
- Petunia
- Jasmine (This plant also creates a lovely aroma).
- Pansies
- Sunflowers (And the annual version will provide a healthy treat for people).
Click here to read our tips blog entry that provides a list of PET-SAFE FLOWERS that you can plant to brighten up your yard as well as PLANTS THAT KILL BUGS NOT YOUR PETS.
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