Dangerous Plants for Pets and One Pet-Friendly Option
It may come as a surprise to learn that many seemingly harmless plants, whether they are found indoors or outdoors, possess toxins harmful to your pets. Take a look at our compilation of flora which could seriously sicken or even be fatal to your pets, and think about making some swift alterations.
Hyacinth
This is one of the plants toxic to cats and dogs. It’s loved for the early lush spring blooms as well as its fragrance. That being said, many members of the perennial family, including hyacinth and tulips, can be poisonous to our pets. If your pets like to dig, steer clear of this plant, as well as other early blooms such as daffodils, crocuses, and snowdrops.
Azalea
The azalea is one of the most beautiful and ubiquitous landscaping plants, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. This entire plant is poisonous, not to just your pets, but also to sheep, goats, and horses. Eating just a handful of leaves can induce diarrhea and vomiting and have serious long-term effects. If you have pets, give the azaleas a pass. If they are already in your yard, either keep a close eye on your pets or remove the plants. Call the vet immediately if you suspect the animals have had an azalea snack.
Daylily
Even though the daylily isn’t toxic to your dogs, they are extremely harmful for cats. If your cat ingests even a small portion of any part of this plant, it can cause serious conditions like kidney failure, if you have an outdoor cat, you may want to consider pulling up any existing plants. If you have indoor cats, make sure all of your tabletop arrangements don’t have daylilies.
Castor Bean
The castor oil plant is a popular pick for landscapers in garden beds in public spaces. It is loved for its colorful foliage, the height of the stems, and arresting seed pods. All of these are toxic. You can always enjoy the plant when you spot it but try not to put one of these in your garden.
Hosta
This is a go-to staple for gardeners looking to fill in shady spots, but they’re poisonous to both dogs and cats. If you have a furry friend at home, you may want to go for a more pet-friendly option, such as coral bells.
English Ivy
You might have already guessed at the berries of this plant are poisonous for pets. However, did you know that the rest of this vine is also toxic? This is especially true of the leaves. Yes, it’s easy to be seduced by the charm of a back wall covered in ivy, but consider this – is it worth the cost to both your dogs and your mortar?
Oleander
The oleander is a fantastic outdoor evergreen that does best in warm climates. It features delicate flowers that bloom in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to white, pink, and red. Even though they’re lovely, the flowers, as well as the leaves, are poisonous not just for your pets but also for you. You should only cultivate oleanders if you’re sure you and your pets can leave them alone.
Spider Plant
This is the one plant on this list that’s safe for your pets. The spider plant has green, glossy leaves that feature a wavy margin. The flowers are small and white. The foot-long, grass-like, narrow leaves grow right from the bottom of the plant. The small flowers are borne along the racemes. You can cut plantlets off and transplant them easily. They dangle from the offsets that can be found hanging well below the base of the plant.
It may be surprising that the majority of the plants listed here are toxic for your pets, but now you have the knowledge to allow you to avoid them and choose plants that won’t harm them.
