Know Which Plants are Dangerous for your Pets

The gardener in you has been waiting for this for a long time. Spring time is planting time, and those April showers will bring along…poison for your pets? Hopefully not, of course, but before you start planting your flowers and gardens, take a look at this list of plants that are potentially poisonous for pets. This is not an exhaustive list, and you can get a more complete listing from your veterinarian or from places like the Humane Society, but this list features some common plants that many people like to feature in their yards.

  • Amaryllis
  • Autumn Crocus
  • Azalea
  • Carnations
  • Cyclamen
  • Hosta
  • Lilies
  • Milkweed
  • Oleander
  • Daffodils
  • Tomato plants
  • Tulips

Some varieties of these plants, like lilies, are safe while others are toxic to pets. You can research which varieties are safe before planting. Some plants have poisonous parts while the rest of the plant is less dangerous. This is the case with tulips, where the bulb is most dangerous. So as long as your pets don’t dig around them, there is less to worry about. For tomatoes, the ripened fruit is not as much of an issue as the green parts of the plant.

The key is to look up the plants you plan to put in your yard to know whether or not they are safe for your pets. An additional step is to keep your pets away from potentially dangerous plants if you still want them. Some strategies include planting tulips in the front yard instead of out back where the pets roam, or fencing off your garden to keep your pets away from the tomato plants. Talk with your vet for more tips, and enjoy your garden.