For all the green thumbs out there, gardening season is the perfect time to get outside, enjoy blooming flowers, and harvest your produce. And if your pets are anything like ours, they’ll want to be right by your side. However, many common garden plants that are safe for humans can be dangerously toxic to dogs or cats who take a bite.
Prepare for the gardening season with our list of toxic and non-toxic plants to ensure your yard remains a pet-friendly paradise!
Pet-Safe Garden Plants
1. Aster
This cheerful, daisy-like flower family comes in a variety of colors, making them perfect for any garden design. Asters are easy to care for, thrive in partial to full sun, and are safe for both cats and dogs. An added bonus: they attract a wide range of pollinators, helping you support your local ecosystem!
2. Basil
Basil is one of many pet-safe herbs (along with rosemary, thyme, cilantro, and lavender), but it stands out for its delicious and versatile flavor. This sun-loving herb grows well in garden plots or pots, making it ideal for gardeners with limited space. Choose classic varieties with a minty flavor or experiment with more exotic types like Thai basil or lemon basil.
3. Camellia
Known for their bold, beautiful flowers, camellias are hardy garden plants. They can be trimmed as shrubs for smaller spaces or allowed to grow into full, blooming trees if you have the room. The vibrant blooms are also perfect for adding to a pet-safe indoor bouquet.
4. Carrots
We all know that dogs love a crunchy baby carrot, but the entire carrot plant is safe for both dogs and cats! The feathery leaves are particularly enticing for cats to play with. When it’s time to harvest, you can share some of the bounty with your pets for a healthy snack.
5. Catmint and Catnip
Catmint and catnip are close relatives and common garden plants. While catmint is popular among gardeners (with or without cats) for its abundance of delicate lavender flowers, catnip contains more nepetalactone—the compound that drives cats wild! Both plants add attractive low growth to your garden beds and are safe for your cats (and dogs) to nibble on.
6. Lettuce
Good news for salad lovers: fresh lettuce is a pet-friendly option! These leafy greens are safe for both dogs and cats and are conveniently low-calorie for pets who love to munch. Spinach is another pet-friendly option, so consider growing both to create your own backyard spring mix.
7. Petunia
These trumpet-shaped flowers are a garden classic for a reason. Petunias come in a rainbow of vibrant colors (including fun speckled varieties) and are pet-friendly from root to tip. Whether you use them as ground cover or in hanging baskets, petunias are hardy in a wide range of climates.
8. Radishes
Radishes add a peppery kick to salads, and the greens can be sautéed for a tasty side dish. Both the roots and greens are safe for pets, and the spicy flavor might even discourage pets who like to munch on your garden plants.
9. Sunflower
A vibrant sunflower towering over your garden can brighten even the grayest day! Both annual and perennial varieties are safe for cats and dogs, and many dogs enjoy the nutty taste of sunflower seeds. Just remember to shell the seeds before feeding them to your dog to avoid digestive upset.
10. Zucchini
Zucchini is a fantastic addition to a pet-friendly garden. Every part of the plant is non-toxic for pets, and cooked zucchini is a healthy, low-calorie addition to your dog or cat’s meal. Just be sure to cook an unseasoned portion for your pets so you can both enjoy it safely.
Unsafe Garden Plants for Pets
Before planting anything in your garden, it’s essential to research whether it’s safe for your animal friends. Here are some common garden plants that can be dangerously toxic to cats and dogs:
- Apple tree
- Azalea
- Cherry tree
- Chive
- Chrysanthemum
- Daffodil
- Garlic
- Geranium
- Grape
- Iris
- Lily
- Lily of the valley
- Milkweed
- Oak tree
- Onion
- Rhododendron
- Sweet pea
- Tulip
- Wisteria
- Yew tree
With this information in hand, you’re ready to plan the perfect garden that you and your pets can enjoy together!
And if you’re more of a houseplant person, be sure to check out our top 10 pet-safe indoor plants list. You’ll discover a variety of cat-friendly and dog-friendly houseplants and learn some surprising facts—like did you know that spider plants are hallucinogenic for cats?