Pet-Safe Plants

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Plant-by-plant answers (27)

One plant per guide, each with the ASPCA verdict, what to watch for, and a native alternative where the answer is that it is toxic.

• Are Willow Trees Toxic to Dogs?No willow is on the ASPCA toxic plant list, and purpleosier willow is listed non-toxic. The one real caution is concentrated white willow bark supplements, not the yard tree. Dog-safe native tree swaps.
• Is Azalea Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Azaleas and rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per the ASPCA. They contain grayanotoxins, and native azaleas are the same genus. What to do and dog-safe Florida swaps.
• Is Bee Balm Toxic to Dogs?No. Bee Balm (Monarda, also called wild bergamot) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. It is an aromatic mint-family plant, so the strong scent usually keeps dogs from eating much of it. Here is the detail and the one mild caveat.
• Is Bindweed Toxic to Dogs?Field Bindweed is not on the ASPCA toxic list, but that is not a clearance. It contains tropane alkaloids and is mildly toxic. What to watch for, and dog-safe native groundcover swaps.
• Is Black-eyed Susan Toxic to Dogs?No. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. The one caveat is that the bristly leaves can mildly irritate a dog's mouth or skin on contact, which is irritation, not poisoning.
• Is Blanket Flower Toxic to Dogs?No. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses, so it is not poisonous to eat. The one caveat is that the foliage can cause mild skin or mouth irritation on contact. Here is what that actually means.
• Is Bougainvillea Toxic to Dogs?Bougainvillea is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. It is not systemically poisonous, but its sharp thorns can cause puncture wounds. What to watch for and thornless Florida-native vines.
• Is Coneflower Toxic to Dogs?No. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. The garden plant is safe to have around dogs. Here is the detail, plus a note on echinacea supplements that muddies the search results.
• Is Coral Honeysuckle Toxic to Dogs?No. Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. The honeysuckle warnings you have read apply to other species, mainly Japanese Honeysuckle berries. Here is how to tell which one you have.
• Is Coreopsis Toxic to Dogs?No. Coreopsis (tickseed) is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA, one of the few garden flowers named explicitly on the non-toxic list. An unusually clean yes for a dog-friendly bed. Here is the detail and how it fits.
• Is Crossvine Toxic to Dogs?No. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. Here is how it compares to Carolina Jessamine, which is toxic, plus a safety table for common Texas vines.
• Is Desert Willow Toxic to Dogs?No. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. The flowers and seed pods are not considered toxic. Here is why it is not a true willow, plus a dog-safety table for common Texas small trees.
• Is Firebush Toxic to Dogs?Firebush (Hamelia patens) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. It is a Florida native that blooms much of the year and makes an ideal dog-safe replacement for toxic shrubs like oleander and lantana.
• Is Hibiscus Toxic to Dogs?The ASPCA lists Hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon) as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Tropical hibiscus and the native Scarlet Rosemallow are also not on the toxic list. How to be sure which one you have.
• Is Honeysuckle Poisonous to Dogs?True honeysuckle (Lonicera) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs. Which honeysuckle you have, why Japanese Honeysuckle berries warrant caution, and how to spot the toxic yellow-flowered lookalike, Carolina Jessamine.
• Is Lantana Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Lantana camara is toxic to dogs per the ASPCA. Unripe green berries are the most dangerous part. Symptoms, how much is dangerous, and dog-safe native swaps.
• Is Milkweed Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Milkweed (Asclepias) is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA, but the bitter sap means serious dog poisonings are rare. How worried to be, whether native milkweeds are safer, and how to keep milkweed and a dog in the same monarch garden.
• Is Oleander Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Oleander (Nerium oleander) is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per the ASPCA. It contains cardiac glycosides, and every part is poisonous, even the water in a vase of cuttings. What to do and dog-safe Florida swaps.
• Is Oxeye Daisy Toxic to Dogs?Yes, cautiously. Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) falls under the ASPCA Chrysanthemum listing, toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Garden ingestion is usually mild. Symptoms and dog-safe native swaps.
• Is Portulaca Toxic to Dogs? What the ASPCA Says About Moss RosePortulaca (moss rose) is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per the ASPCA. The signs of soluble calcium oxalate poisoning, the weedy vs. ornamental forms, and three dog-safe native swaps.
• Is Purslane Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per the ASPCA, from soluble calcium oxalates. The same warning covers ornamental moss rose purslane. Symptoms to watch for and dog-safe native ground cover swaps.
• Is Sago Palm Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per the ASPCA. Every part contains cycasin, the seeds are the worst, and ingestion can cause liver failure and death. What to do and dog-safe Florida swaps.
• Is Salvia Toxic to Dogs?No. Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) and other garden salvias are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs. The mix-up is one unrelated species. Full breakdown inside.
• Is Texas Sage Toxic to Dogs?No. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens), also sold as Cenizo, Texas Ranger, and barometer bush, is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses. Here is what that means and how it compares to common Texas shrubs that are toxic, like Oleander and Sago Palm.
• Is Trumpet Vine Toxic to Dogs?No. Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, though its sap can irritate skin. The real danger is name confusion: Angel's trumpet and Carolina Jessamine are toxic. Here is how to tell all the "trumpet" plants apart.
• Is Wisteria Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.) is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. The seeds and pods carry the highest dose of lectin and wisterin. Whether native American Wisteria is safer, and the dog-safe native vines with a similar look.
• Is Yarrow Toxic to Dogs?Yes. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA, though the toxicity is on the mild end. Why some sources call it pet-safe, the symptoms to watch, and non-toxic native swaps for the same low pollinator role.

By state (6)

The toxic plants that actually turn up in yards and garden centers in each state, with a native swap for each.

• California Yard Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs (And Native Alternatives)Common California yard plants that are toxic to dogs, with a California-native swap for each. Covers Oleander, Sago Palm, Foxglove, Agapanthus, Lantana camara, and English Ivy, with toxicity per the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
• Colorado Yard Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs (And Native Alternatives)Common Colorado yard plants that are toxic to dogs, with a Colorado-native swap for each. Covers Yew, Foxglove, Lily of the Valley, spring bulbs, Iris, and Chokecherry, with toxicity per the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
• Florida Yard Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs (and Native Swaps)The most dangerous plants for dogs in Florida yards, what they do, and a Florida-native, non-toxic swap for each. Sago Palm, Oleander, Azalea, Lantana, Nandina, and Chinaberry.
• Georgia Yard Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs (And Native Alternatives)Common Georgia yard plants that are toxic to dogs, with a Georgia-native swap for each. Covers Sago Palm, Azalea and Rhododendron, English Ivy, Nandina, Oleander, and Carolina Jessamine, with toxicity per the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
• Tennessee Yard Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs (And Native Alternatives)Common Tennessee yard plants that are toxic to dogs, with a Tennessee-native swap for each. Covers Azalea and Rhododendron, Nandina, English Ivy, Carolina Jessamine, Lily of the Valley, and spring bulbs, with toxicity per the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
• The 6 Texas Yard Plants Most Toxic to Dogs (and a Safe Native Swap for Each)Sago Palm, Oleander, Lantana, and 3 more common Texas yard plants dangerous to dogs, per the ASPCA. Symptoms, a safe native swap for each, and the 24/7 poison hotline.

Designing a yard around pets

Layout, ground covers, and the parts of a pet-friendlier yard that are not about toxicity at all.

• How to Design a Dog-Friendly Native Backyard in TexasHow to design a backyard that works for both your dog and native plants. Covers durable ground covers, protected planting zones, paths for dog runs, and plants that handle the wear.
• Pet-Friendly Native Ground Cover for Texas DogsThe best non-toxic native ground covers for Texas yards with dogs. Covers Frogfruit, Horseherb, Silver Ponyfoot, and other dog-safe alternatives to St. Augustine grass that handle foot traffic and heat.
• Pretty, Toxic, and Invasive: Why Your HOA Loves a Plant That Kills BirdsNandina berries are toxic to birds and pets. Agarita gives you holly-shaped, evergreen appeal and is very deer resistant. A Texas native swap that fits HOA expectations.