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Hemp

Cannabis sativa

Last reviewed: October 2026

Hemp (Cannabis sativa)
Photo: (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger

Hemp is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and 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

36"–120" H × 12"–48" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Native alternatives to Hemp

Hemp 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

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Picture natives in your own yard

Wondering what could grow where Hemp is now? Upload a photo of the spot and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it replanted with natives for your region.

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Hemp is a tall annual herb that can grow up to 10 feet tall with distinctive palmate leaves and small greenish flowers in summer. This fast-growing plant requires full sun and regular watering to reach its full potential. As an annual, it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Hemp takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

  • Legal restrictions and permits required
  • Strong negative social stigma regardless of legality
  • Can appear weedy and unmanicured

Wildlife value

The summer blooms attract bees and beetles for pollination. Seeds can provide food for birds if allowed to mature.

Common questions

How much sun does Hemp need?
Hemp grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Hemp bloom?
Hemp blooms in June, July, and August.
Is Hemp toxic to dogs?
Yes. Hemp 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 Hemp toxic to cats?
Yes. Hemp 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 Hemp attract?
Hemp draws bees and beetles.
Is Hemp HOA-friendly?
Hemp 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.

See all plant problem guides

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Hemp and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.

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