Dog friendly plants: which plants are safe for dogs?

Not every plant that decorates our home is a dog-friendly plant – so the question quickly arises: which house and garden plants are non-toxic for dogs?

Anyone who has a dog at home knows that you can’t always influence everything your four-legged friend does in the garden or home. You look away for one moment and before you know it your dog is nibbling on the new houseplant or a fallen leaf. Most animals have a good instinct for what they can tolerate and what they cannot – but this is often not the case with young dogs. Therefore, it is better to know which garden plants and houseplants are non-toxic for dogs.

Non-toxic indoor and balcony plants for dogs

There are many details to consider in the home when a dog enters our lives. Care should be taken to ensure that only non-toxic greenery is within reach of the dog. Below, we present some beautiful indoor plants that are non-toxic for dogs.

Calathea

Calatheas (Calathea) are popular houseplants with a wide range of species and varieties. These are all non-toxic to dogs and stand out with their large, decorative leaves. Many species are demanding but are worth the effort for their visual appeal in the home.

Spider plant

The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is the perfect plant for beginners. It is very easy to care for and copes well with short dry spells. It also looks beautiful and has air-purifying properties. It should be noted that the seeds of the spider plant are considered slightly toxic.

Golden cane palm

The golden cane palm (Dypsis lutescens) is very decorative and, like the spider plant, has air-purifying properties. Instead of planting it in soil like other houseplants, you can simply keep it in water. In addition, it is considered completely non-toxic for dogs.

Pilea

The non-toxic Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is a popular houseplant that quickly forms several offshoots and is thus easy to propagate. In a bright place without direct sunlight, the plate-round leaves radiate in a dark green hue – if they turn yellow, it is time to find a new location.

Venus flytrap

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) with its catching leaves is something quite extraordinary – and non-toxic to dogs. With the right care, the carnivorous plant even develops flowers in spring.

Lucky chestnut

The lucky chestnut (Pachira aquatica) is a popular houseplant. Only their trunk sometimes secretes a liquid that can be poisonous – but your dog would have to eat the whole lucky chestnut trunk to actually suffer poisoning. This exotic plant is easy to care for and needs a bright location.

Non-toxic garden plants for dogs

Dogs have somewhat different demands on the garden than we do: they need enough open space to roam around. Nevertheless, it is recommended not to keep everything too neat and tidy so that the little investigators still have something to discover. If there are a few branches lying around here and there, the dog can use them as toys. In summer, our four-legged friend definitely need a shady place and a tub filled with water or a children’s paddling pool for cooling off.

There may also be places in the garden where a dog can cause damage. For example, if you have a bed where you would rather your dog avoids, you can plant the so-called scaredy cat plant (Plectranthus ornatus) around the bed. Dogs avoid this plant and it thus serves as a natural barrier. It is best to plant this only in slightly larger gardens so that the dog still has enough space to roam around in the garden. Not every dog will be deterred by the plant – fences or raised beds are therefore a safer way to protect your plants.

There are certain garden plants that should be avoided because they are very poisonous for our pets. It should be noted that most plants can cause health problems for your dog if eaten in very large quantities.

Non-toxic shrubs for dogs

Below we present some shrubs and trees that are non-toxic to dogs and thus contribute to a dog-friendly garden design.

Hazelnut

The native hazelnut, the common hazel (Corylus avellana), not only brings us tasty hazelnuts but also serves as an early pollen provider for wild bees and honey bees. The shrub is a low-maintenance garden companion: it is rarely affected by diseases or pests and is comparatively easy and non-time-consuming to care for. The hazelnut is completely non-toxic for dogs.

Currants

Currants (Ribes rubrum) are a must-have in any garden. This deciduous shrub is decorative and, depending on the variety, forms delicious fruits between June and August that contain valuable vitamin C. It is best to plant the currant bush in autumn – now all you have to do is choose one of the many currant varieties.

Common lilac

The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) brings brilliant colour to any garden when it flowers between April and May. Its flowers also exude a unique fragrance. This non-toxic shrub can grow up to 5 metres tall and reproduces quickly by runners. It is therefore more suitable for larger gardens.

Non-toxic trees for dogs

Trees can also be poisonous to dogs. Here are some trees that will make your garden dog-friendly:

Maple

The maple tree genus (Acer) contains numerous species with variants such as the Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) being most common in our country. These grow into large trees but there are also Japanese maples that remain small and impress with their magnificent autumn colouring.

Apple tree

In a dog-friendly garden, it is a good idea to plant an apple tree (Malus). It delights onlookers in autumn with its fruit and impressive white or slightly pink apple tree flowers from the end of April.

Cherry tree

The cherry tree (Prunus avium) is a practical garden companion for dog owners. It is non-toxic to dogs and fascinates with beautiful flowers in spring from April to May. In autumn, it produces delicious, sweet fruits. In order for the tree to produce fruit, some species need another cherry tree nearby since not all species are self-pollinating. Find out how to plant cherry trees in our magazine.

In addition to the plants, it is of course essential to avoid toxic substances in fertilisers or pesticides for a dog-friendly garden. Lawn fertiliser in particular can be quickly eaten by dogs. Therefore, always use natural fertilisers like our Plantura Lawn Feed to protect your pets. More information on the right lawn fertiliser for dog owners can be found in our magazine.

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Most herbs are also non-toxic for dogs and some are even said to have medicinal properties. Read more about herbs for dogs that you can plant in the garden in our magazine.