Pet-Safe Gardening: Learn Which Popular Plants Are Toxic to Dogs and Cats

Whether you just got a new furry friend or you're planning your next garden purchases, make sure you check to see if your new plants are toxic to dogs and cats.

We often pick plants based on looks, smells, and growing needs. But if you have a furry friend at home, you should also consider looking to see if a plant may be toxic to dogs and cats if ingested. Below, we give an overview of some popular plants that are poisonous to cats and dogs. This list does not include all poisonous plants, so be sure to research individual plant types before purchasing. We’ll also offer some additional tips for pet-safe gardening.

Plants vary by toxicity. Depending on the variety, symptoms can range from red or itching skin, pain and irritation to a pet’s mouth, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, to causing serious effects to the heart, liver, kidneys or brain. If you suspect your cat or dog is suffering from plant poisoning, remove any plant parts from their mouth, wash around their mouth and hands, give them some water, check for irritation, and contact your local animal poison control hotline. Do not induce vomiting. 

• Aloe vera
• Amaryllis
• Autumn Crocus
• Azalea
• Bird of paradise
• Black-eyed Susan
• Bleeding heart
• Cyclamen
• Daffodils
• Daisy
• Dieffenbachia
• Kalanchoe
• Lantana
• Lilies
• Lily of the Valley
• Oleander
• Peony
• Philodendron
• Tulips
• Verbena

Thankfully, not all plants are poisonous to our furry friends. When deciding on additions to your garden, consider the following dog- and cat-safe plants.

• African Violets
• Aster
• Baby’s breath
• Bleeding heart
• Butterfly bush
• Chicks and hens
• Christmas cactus
• Feather Palm
• Forget-me-not
• Hibiscus
• Hollyhock
• Impatiens
• Lamb’s ears
• Lilac
• Marigolds
• Pansies
• Petunias
• Sage
• Snapdragon
• Sunflowers

In addition to selecting safe plants, there are other precautions you can take to help keep your pet safe in the backyard. 

• Keep your yard free of harmful bugs. Pests like mosquitoes, fleas and ticks can be more than just a nuisance: they can pose harm to your cats and dogs. Avoid leaving piles of sticks, leaves and other debris around the yard, and make sure you cut your turfgrass to its recommended height. Also consider signing up for TruGreen’s Outdoor Nuisance Pest Control and Mosquito Defense plan for added control of backyard pests.
• If you compost, be sure that your bin or pile isn’t accessible to your curious pet. Old produce can cause harm to your pet’s health.
• Create boundaries for your pets. Use paths to help train your pets on which parts of the yard they should stay in. Consider creating separation from your gardens and allowing your pets to have their own area with healthy, lush lawn to play in.
• Prior to your specialist arriving for your scheduled service, make sure your dog or cat is inside and off the lawn. After the service, we recommend you allow the treatment to dry before pets resume enjoying their lawns.

By partnering with TruGreen, you can get a yard that’s healthy and free of pests for your cat or dog to enjoy. To see our available service plans, click here.