Need a little color in your yard but at the same time find yourself worried about the dog eating what you plant and possibly becoming sick?
Wondering which flowers are safe and not toxic for your pet and which ones are?
This is a common concern amongst pet owners…as I have worried about the same thing. None of us want our furry family members to become ill or possibly die from eating what we planted in our yard.
So, in order for us dog owners to be more relaxed… let’s create a safe environment (or safe place within the yard) with flowers that are not life-threatening to our pets.
“WHAT DOES SAFE OR NON-TOXIC REALLY MEAN”
As stated by the ASPCA: Also, be advised that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats. Plants listed as either non-toxic, or potentially toxic with mild GI upset as their symptoms are not expected to be life-threatening to your pets. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
Pertaining to the above.. (in lamens terms: Any plant listed as non-toxic doesn’t mean it will not make your dog sick, it just means they should live. Every pet is different and will therefore have different reactions to different plants. The animals’ reaction also depends on how much of the plant was consumed and or what part of the plant.)
For this line-up of great bloomers, I have listed some sun-loving, non-toxic outdoor flowering annuals. Annuals are the ones that are not supposed to come back the following year…..(although, time and time again I’ve had some of these reseed themselves.)
DOG-SAFE FLOWERS
Let’s start with the beautiful Zinnia…..
1.) Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
- Light: Full sun
- Size: 10″ – 5′ H (depends on variety)
- Soil: Fertile to average (sandy to loamy)
- Moisture: Medium (not too dry or too wet)
- Bloom: Summer – fall
If you want a lot of blooms and butterflies then plant some Zinnias….you will not be disappointed. In my first year growing Zinnias, I added a good amount of compost to the soil and they performed well all summer….they gave me a ton of cut flowers.
All-natural compost was the only fertilizer I used.
Now, the height depends on which variety you choose. I grew Benary’s Giants and they grow to about 4′ – 5′.
Oh…and these guys have always come back for me the following year, (I am in zone 7.)
2.) Celosia ‘Flamingo Feather’ (Celosia spicata)
- Light: Full Sun
- Size: 36-40″ H
- Soil: Rich, well-drained
- Moisture: Medium to moist
- Bloom: Summer
I absolutely love Flamingo Feather…aka wheat celosia, with its cylindrical feathery spikes….it reminds me of the plumes on tall grasses. This plant makes great cut flowers, lasting sometimes for up to 2 weeks…and adds a unique texture to a bouquet.
The feathery plumes are very interesting, the way they open from bottom to the top, and while in bloom will they will attract birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.
3.) Pineapple Sage ( Salvia elegans)
- Light: Full to part sun
- Size: up to 4’H
- Soil: Rich to average and well-drained
- Moisture: Moist to dry
- Blooms: Late summer to early fall
This one I love! Aka…tangerine sage. One year I had one in a planter on my porch in part sun and it did amazingly. Easily grew to 3′ high…..just beautiful and smells wonderful.
This plant can handle some drought, but remember the hotter and more sun it receives the more water you should give.
And always a bonus…..this guy attracts pollinators, from hummingbirds to bees and butterflies….so add this one to your pollinator garden. Oh…and the fragrance released when you rub a leaf is amazing.
4.) Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
- Light: Full sun to part-shade
- Size: 6″ to 4′ H
- Soil: Fertile to average
- Moisture: Medium
- Blooms: Spring and Fall
Aka…Dog’s mouth, Lion’s mouth, and Toad’s mouth. These guys definitely have a very different bloom on them. If you squeeze them they snap open and shut…hence the name snapdragon.
These flowers come in 4 groups (groups 3 & 4 love the heat), while groups 1 & 2 love the cool weather, they prefer nites in the 40’s and daytime temps in the ’70s. Potomac and Rocket are 2 that will perform best in summer.
The height of snaps depends on the variety you grow, they can range from 6″ to 4′ high.
Bumblebees love to visit this flower, they are about the only bee strong enough to open the bloom.
Snapdragons also make great container plants….this way you can bring them in to overwinter if you like.
5.) Gerber Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Size: 8″ – 24″ H
- Soil: Fertile and well-drained
- Moisture: Medium
- Bloom: Summer
A daisy with an almost too perfect look, aka…Transvaal Daisy, Gerbera Daisy, Barberton daisy, and African daisy.
This flower comes in an array of colors and prefers the cool weather…now it doesn’t want frost, just temps preferably below 70 degrees. It will do great with very bright indirect light but when summer temps rise they may stop flowering until it cools off again.
I think these guys make great container plants, this way in the heat of the summer you could either bring them in or move them to an area with some shade and try to keep them in bloom. Make sure when planting to leave the crown about 1″ above the soil and allow it to dry out between waterings.
6.) Impatience Plant (Impatiens spp.)
- Light: Shade to part shade
- Size: 6″ -36″ H / 1′ – 3′ W
- Soil: Fertile and well-drained
- Moisture: Medium – moist
- Bloom: Spring to summer
Such a lovely little flower…..dainty and fragile. Aka…busy Lizzy, snapweed, touch-me-nots….to name a few, are shade lovers. And with over 1,000 varieties… you are sure to find a color you like.
This flower makes for a great container plant or edging for your shade flower garden. Impatiens don’t like to be kept soggy or bone dry. I have found that the moisture balance depends on where and how you have them planted….for instance, if you have them right up against other plants in the shade, then I would let them dry out “for just a minute” in-between watering.
To help in your shopping, the common standard varieties are Walleriana “XDR” and “Beacon”.
7.) Pansies ” Viola tricolor var hortensis”
Need some color for the cold winter months….this little flower can provide. Pansies love the cold temps and hate the hot ones. Here in the Southeast…..in zone 7, where the winters dip into the teens, these flowers are commonly planted in the fall for a show of colors well into springtime. When the heat and humidity kicks-in…..the pansies call it quits.
They make great bedding or container plants…say, around the mailbox or in a planter on the porch. Plant these flowers in rich, well-drained soil and be sure and keep them watered thru the winter ( when it’s not hot out we tend to forget to water.)
Oh…and to encourage more blooms be sure to deadhead spent flowers.
- Light: Full to part sun
- Size: 6″ – 12″ H
- Soil: Fertile and well-drained
- Moisture: Medium to moist
- Bloom: Fall thru Spring (depending on temp)
8.) China Aster ( Callistephus chinensis)
The China Aster from the Aster family is known by many terms, for instance…Aster Pompon, Aster Paeony, and Annual Aster.
This colorful “cool weather” plant will not only add some fall color but will also attract butterflies to your garden. The best thing about this flower is that when most everything else in the garden is waining…..this one is just getting started and will bloom into Fall.
Remember, to keep it watered as they do not like to dry out!
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Size: 1′ – 3′ H
- Soil: Fertile and well-drained
- Moisture: Medium
- Bloom: Late Summer – Fall
9.) Sunflowers “Helianthus annuus”
Who doesn’t love a flower that resembles the sun. Sunflowers to me are one of the most cheerful!
I have grown many different types of sunflowers and love them all. Plant in full sun in rich soil and depending on the variety you choose you may want to give them some support.
- Light: Full sun
- Size: 1′ – 15′ H
- Soil: Fertile and well-drained
- Moisture: Medium
- Bloom: Summer
10.) Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine “Ipomoea batatas”
Ok…I know I said 10 Flowers…but I could not help but include this vine. They may not be known for their seldom discrete blooms, but believe me, once you see the colors and how they cascade perfectly…you won’t care one bit that it doesn’t really bloom.
This is one of the best choices for container planting…have it be a hanging basket or ground-style planter. My fav is the lime green color…you can mix it with something to make it pop, like…say…black elephant ears or dark-colored coleus….plant and enjoy!
- Light: Full to part shade
- Size: 6″ – 15″ high / up to 10′ Long
- Soil: Fertile and well-drained
- Moisture: Medium (moist not soggy)
A tip before you go
Don’t go and spray chemicals on your flowers, in your garden, or anywhere for that matter…organic or not, as this will defeat everything you are trying to accomplish.
It doesn’t stop with non-toxic plants you can further ensure that your yard is safe by implementing these very important Organic Gardening practices.
Now you have a list of flowers for your yard that is safe to plant. Have fun plant shopping and good luck with creating your dog-friendly space!
Tagged: ASPCA’s Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
The Human Society of The United States: https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/poisonous-plants-to-pets.pdf