Plants and Pets
We all know that some plants are poisonous to humans. Many gardeners avoid
species such as foxgloves, nettles, and berry-bearers in our gardens because
of the dangers of touching and ingesting the flowers leaves or fruits.
We are less aware of the dangers posed to our pets by some species of popular
plants. Here is a list of houseplants and garden plants that can be dangerous
to household pets:
There are serious animal health issues raised by the species we grow and
we should take the advice of animal welfare experts when thinking about our
gardens.
A list of plants dangerous to cats:
- Almond
- Aloe vera
- Amaryllis
- Apple Seeds
- Avocado
- Azalea
- Belladonna
- Buttercup
- Castor Oil Plant
- Crocus
- Datura
- Dragon Tree
- Helleborus niger
- Ivy
- Laurel
- Lilly (all varieties of lilly are poisonous for cats)
- Oak saplings
- Ragwort
- Rhododendron
- Mother-in-law's Tongue (Sanseveria trifasiata)
- Snowdrop
- Sweet Pea
- Tansy
- Tobacco
- Wisteria
- Yellow Jasmine
Of course most cats will never eat these plants and happily coexist with
them in our gardens. However, it is best to be aware and to seek vetenary
advice if your cat ever exhibits unusual behavior after eating something it
shouldn't.
A list of plants dangerous to Dogs:
- Amaryllis,
- Aparagus Fern,
- Avocado
- Crocus,
- Cyclamen,
- Daffodil,
- Elephant Ears,
- Foxglove,
- Gladiola,
- Hyacinth,
- Hydrangea,
- Iris,
- Lily (all varieties of lily)
- Morning Glory,
- Narcissus,
- Onion,
- Poinsettia,
- Tulips,
- Yucca
Please note that this is not a definitive list. Contact your local vetenary
practice or animal welfare organization if you have concerns about your
plants and your pets.
