It's National Dog Day! Which Plants are Toxic to Dogs?

Ideas
Written By Plant and Bloom Design Studio

Keep Your Dog Safe Inside and Outside of the Home

Common houseplants, garden plants, weeds, and and wild plants for dog owners to avoid.

Man's best friend brings boundless joy, enthusiasm, loyalty and companionship into our lives. As we strive to create a safe and harmonious environment for our beloved dogs, it's crucial to be aware of some potential hazards that often go unnoticed – the presence of toxic plants, both inside and outside the home, that can pose serious risks to our canine companions when ingested. Read on to find out which plants dog owners should avoid.

Why is My Dog Eating My Plants?

Dogs are known to explore their surroundings through their senses, and some plants smell and taste great! This exploratory behavior might lead them to sample different plants out of curiosity. Some dogs may resort to eating plants as a response to dietary deficiencies, if their nutritional needs are not being adequately met, or to alleviate nausea and stomach upset. Dogs might also chew on plants as a means of alleviating boredom or anxiety, similar to how humans might engage in certain behaviors for comfort.

Poisonous plants can have a range of adverse effects on dogs when ingested. The specific reactions depend on the plant species and the amount consumed, but some common symptoms and consequences include:

  • Gastrointestinal distress - nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea

  • Neurological symptoms - seizures, tremors, disorientation

  • Cardiovascular problems - irregular heartbeat and changes in heart rate

  • Organ damage

  • Respiratory distress - breathing difficulties and coughing

  • Skin irritation, hives, itching

  • Lethargy

  • Death - in severe cases

It's important to note that some plants are only mildly toxic and might cause minor discomfort, while others can be highly poisonous and lead to serious health consequences.

A cute black and white dog sits next to a spider plant.

These lists cover some of the most common houseplants, garden plants, and weeds known to be toxic to dogs and are not all-inclusive. If you have dogs, it's best to either avoid having these plants altogether or keep them out of reach in a place where your canine friends cannot access them. If you suspect your dog has ingested a toxic plant, seek immediate veterinary care. For more information, visit the ASPCA website or the Pet Poison Hotline.

Which Houseplants are Toxic to Dogs?

  • Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen)

  • Alocasia (elephant ears)

  • Aloe vera

  • Amaryllis

  • Asparagus fern

  • Azalea

  • Begonia

  • Bird of paradise

  • Caladium

  • Carnations

  • Chinaberry tree

  • Chrysanthemum

  • Cyclamen

  • Desert rose (Adenium)

  • Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)

  • Dracaena (Including corn plant)

  • Euphorbia (including pencil cactus)

  • Ficus (fig)

  • Gardenia

  • Hellebore

  • Ivy

  • Jade (Crassula)

  • Jerusalem cherry

  • Kalanchoe

  • Lavender

  • Lemon tree

  • Lily (Including peace lily and Easter lily)

  • Lime tree

  • Marijuana

  • Mint

  • Mistletoe

  • Monstera

  • Narcissus (Including daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites)

  • Oregano

  • Ornamental pepper

  • Oxalis (shamrock plant)

  • Panda plant succulent

  • Philodendron

  • Poinsettia

  • Pothos

  • Sago palm

  • Sansaveria (snake lant; Mother-in-Law’s tongue)

  • Schefflera

  • String of dolphins

  • String of pearls

  • ZZ plant

If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, quick action is critical. Contact your vet or an emergency vet clinic immediately.

A sweet black and white dog named Molly sits in the grass. She is the best dog in the world.

It's not only decorative garden plants that can pose a danger to dogs; be cautious of harmful weeds as well.

Many dogs spend time outside, unsupervised, in fenced-in back yards or dog runs, and certain common garden plants and weeds can pose a threat. These plants may appear harmless, yet they contain compounds that are harmful or even deadly when ingested by canines. Dog owners should be vigilant about identifying and removing such plants from their yards to ensure the safety and well-being of their canine companions.

If you need help identifying outdoor plants, using plant identification apps or local online resources specific to your region can help you. The Pl@ntNet and PictureThis apps can help with the process of identifying plants and weeds growing in your yard.

Which Common Garden Plants are Toxic or Poisonous to Dogs?

  • Allium species (onions, garlic, chives, leeks)

  • Arum

  • Autumn crocus

  • Azalea

  • Begonia

  • Black walnut (Juglans nigra)

  • Bleeding hearts (Dicentra species)

  • Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

  • Bluebells (Hyacinthoides species)

  • Borage (Borago officinalis)

  • Boxwood (Buxus species)

  • Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

  • Carnations and pinks, including sweet William (Dianthus species)

  • Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)

  • Chamomile (Anthemis mobilis)

  • Cherry trees and shrubs (Prunus species)

  • Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach)

  • Clematis

  • Coleus

  • Cotoneaster

  • Chrysanthemum

  • Citrus trees

  • Dahlia

  • Delphinium (larkspur)

  • Elderberry (Sambucus)

  • Euphorbia

  • Foxgloves (Digitalis)

  • Fruit trees (apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums)

  • Gardenia

  • Geranium (Pelargonium)

  • Grape vines and fruits (Vitis vinifera)

  • Hellebore

  • Hops (Humulus lupulus)

  • Holly

  • Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

  • Hosta

  • Hyacinth

  • Hydrangea

  • Iris

  • Ivy (Hedera helix)

  • Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)

  • Laburnum (golden chain tree)

  • Lantana

  • Lavender

  • Lemon Grass

  • Lemon Verbena

  • Leucothoe (dog hobble)

  • Lilies - including Asiatic, day, tiger, and rose lilies

  • Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)

  • Locust (Robinia species)

  • Marjoram

  • Milkweed (Asclepias species)

  • Mint (Mentha)

  • Morning Glory

  • Mountain laurel (Kalmia species)

  • Narcissus (Including daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites)

  • Nandina (Heavenly bamboo)

  • Nicotiana

  • Oak (the acorns are toxic; however, it takes 20-50 years for a tree to begin producing acorns)

  • Oleander

  • Oregano

  • Pieris

  • Peony

  • Portulaca (Purslane)

  • Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum)

  • Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

  • Privet (Ligustrum japonicum)

  • Rhododendron

  • Rhubarb (Rheum species)

  • Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

  • Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum)

  • Tarragon

  • Tomato

  • Tulips

  • Wisteria

  • Yew (Taxus and Cephalotaxus species)

Which Common Weeds and Wild Plants are Toxic to Dogs?

  • Allium species (onions, garlic, chives, leeks)

  • Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

  • Buttercup (Ranunculus species)

  • Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

  • Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)

  • Creeping charlie ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

  • Flea bane daisy (Erigeron speciosus)

  • Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

  • Groundsel (Senecio species)

  • Hickory - nuts are toxic (Carya species)

  • Holly (Ilex species)

  • Iris species

  • Ivy (Hedera helix)

  • Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)

  • Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense)

  • May apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

  • Meadow death camas (Zigadenus venenosus)

  • Mushrooms (it’s best to remove any mushrooms you cannot ID as safe)

  • Oak - acorns are toxic (Quercus species)

  • Pigweed (Amaranthus species)

  • Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

  • Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

  • Rhubarb (Rheum species)

  • Skunk weed (Symplocarpus foetidus)

  • Stinging nettles (Urtica species)

  • Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

  • Vinca species

  • Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus qinquefolia)

A mischievous cat named Tom eats a spider plant.

And don’t forget our feline friends…for a list of cat-friendly plants and plants that are toxic to cats, click here.

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