Caraway
Carum carvi
Last reviewed: September 2026
Caraway is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Pollinators
bees, beetles, flies
Native alternatives to Caraway
Caraway is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaCaraway is a biennial herb that produces delicate, fern-like foliage in its first year and sends up umbrella-shaped clusters of small white flowers in late spring to early summer of its second year. This compact plant reaches 1-2 feet tall and offers aromatic seeds that are commonly used as a culinary spice.
In an HOA neighborhood
Caraway takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Appears as herb/vegetable rather than ornamental landscape plant
- Dies back completely after second year seed production
- May self-seed creating informal cottage garden appearance
Wildlife value
The umbrella-shaped flower clusters attract various beneficial insects including bees, beetles, and flies during its bloom period in May and June.
Common questions
- How much sun does Caraway need?
- Caraway grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Caraway bloom?
- Caraway blooms in May and June.
- Is Caraway toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Caraway is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Caraway toxic to cats?
- Yes. Caraway is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Caraway attract?
- Caraway draws bees, beetles, and flies.
- Is Caraway HOA-friendly?
- Caraway takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Caraway and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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