Got pets? Keep these plants out of your garden
In addition to my love for animals, I love gardening. I even became a Master Gardener at one point in my life. That’s because, from my first potted tomato plant (parts of which can be toxic to pets, by the way) to the more elaborate landscaping and gardening I enjoy today, I had to learn which plants are toxic to pets.
Sadly, nurseries don’t generally put this information on a plant’s tag. At least, I have never seen any warnings about plants and their toxicity to pets at nurseries. When you purchase a sago palm or mountain laurel, no one says anything at checkout about these two plants being toxic to pets (and kids). Yet, all parts of these evergreens are deadly. The sago palm is the most common in the landscape, but you don’t have to have it in your yard for it to be a problem. If it’s in your neighborhood, those little seed pods also can migrate to your yard. (Please don’t ask your neighbor to remove their plants. Depending on your relationship,
you can let them know about the toxicity of these plants if they have pets. Just always monitor your dog when outside.) If you suspect your pet has ingested any part of these two plants, don’t wait for them to develop side effects. By then, veterinarians say, it’s too late. According to local vets, the survival rate after ingesting the sago palm is about 50 percent, even with aggressive medical treatment. (If you’re looking for an evergreen plant that is nontoxic and deer resistant, the Texas sage is good option.)
All parts of milkweed and oleander, two flowering plants, are also toxic to pets. Butterflies, hummingbirds and bees love milkweed. They don’t like oleander. So, gardeners tend to want milkweed in the yard for butterflies. I inherited two milkweeds and six oleanders when I bought my property, but they are outside the fenced yard and nowhere near where my dog can get to them.
Another toxic plant is nightshade. While gardeners generally don’t cultivate this plant in
the garden, you might find it growing wild in more rural areas of the county. If you have pets and they have access to this plant, remove as much of it as possible from your garden or landscape. Other common landscape plants, which may not kill your pet, but could cause vomiting and diarrhea, confusion and gastric issue, depending on the plant, include American holly, lilies, gladiolas, chrysanthemums, tulips, azaleas and daffodils, to name a few.
Simply put, if you love gardening
and have pets, learn which plants are toxic to pets. Then, if you must have the plant in your garden or landscape, put it in a location where your pets can’t get to it.
For a complete listing of toxic and nontoxic plants, check out the ASPCA’S website at: aspca.org/pet-care/animalpoison-control/toxic-and-nontoxic-plants.