Pet friendly plants

With the weather warming up, many of our pets will be spending more time outdoors. However, there are some plants to steer clear of if you have pets.

PDSA Vet Rebecca Ashman says: “Outdoor exercise and playtime are great for pets. Many enjoy exploring new scents and sounds as part of their natural behaviour, helping to keep them active and happy.

“While pet owners do need to think carefully about what flowers and plants they have in their gardens, there are plenty of harmless varieties which mean owning a pet doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful and colourful garden.”

Safe plants for dogs include ferns and African violets. For cats, choose sunflowers and snapdragons. Owners should always check whether plants may be poisonous to pets before buying and advice can be sought from garden centres.

Rebecca adds: “A little bit of research can prevent a large veterinary bill. There’s no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds – a great looking garden that’s also safe for your pet to enjoy.”

Rebecca’s top plants to avoid are daffodils, laburnum, allium species (leeks, spring onions and wild garlic), bluebells, lilies and rhododendrons.

The Horticultural Trade Association has a code of practice that most garden centres adhere to. The code labels plants A – Poisonous, B – Toxic if eaten and C – Harmful if eaten. Plants in any of these categories are best avoided.