10 Dog-Friendly Plants for Your Home

A little greenery instantly transforms rooms into an oasis of calm, where owners and their furry friends can relax and recharge. But not all plants are suitable for hobby gardeners and their four-legged companions. Luckily, there's a wide selection of greenery that's not only safe for your dog-friendly home but might even positively impact your pawed friend's life and definitely brings (even more) life into your home.

Are you the owner of a fluffy furball, but also a passionate plant parent in your free time? We've found 10 plants for you that not only look paw-some but are also harmless to your furry friend! In this blog post, you'll also learn which plants your dog should avoid and what to do in case of poisoning.

Green-thumb ready? Then to the soil, get set, go!

Bird's nest fern

Not to be confused with the male fern, which can be found in our Swiss forests.

The bird's nest fern is often used by feathered creatures for nest building and is also non-toxic to furry friends. Furthermore, the greenery is easy to care for, making it the perfect plant for beginner home gardeners.

Money Tree

The Money Tree is not only a welcome guest among Feng Shui enthusiasts, but it is also very popular with pet owners. Why?

The chic plant is non-toxic to humans and animals alike. If it has a sunny spot and is regularly misted with water, it will bring you luck and an eye-catcher for your cozy home with its braided trunk.

Bromeliad

The perfect plant for beginners doesn't exi...

Yes, it does! With its pineapple-like appearance, the bromeliad brings a tropical flair to any home. Plus, these plants only need to be watered every one to two months and are paw-friendly!

As long as your home gets enough sunlight and you occasionally humidify your living space, the bromeliad should be a harmless and attractive housemate for you and your furry friend.

Lemon tree

When life gives you lemons..., put the seeds in a pot and grow a tree! Your paw will enjoy it too – and the homegrown fruits will also refresh you in summer! The tree and its fruits are harmless to your paw.

Boston Fern

If you love fluffy ferns and don't mind your furry friend occasionally burying their nose in them, the Boston fern, also known as the sword fern, might be the ideal addition to your home.

The sword fern is harmless, but its garland-like fronds are tempting for pets to play with and nibble on.

Jade plant

According to Feng Shui, this attractive, easy-to-care-for plant is good for your wallet, but it also beautifies interiors for dog owners without endangering their pets.

The plants are ideal for beginners as they don't need much water (they particularly dislike waterlogging) and thrive in almost any spot with enough daylight.

When the plant looks good enough to eat

While there are quite a few plants that are harmless to your furry friend, unfortunately, due to their all too interesting leaf shape and stem texture, they become too enticing for them and eventually fall victim. Plants with large and/or roundish leaves that move very little are safest from a paw's curiosity. If you want to protect the roots of your plants from Buddy the digging dog, you can use a coconut mat.

These little plants are especially good for the paw

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Perhaps something else for the garden?

  • Hazelnut

    The hazelnut bush is easy to care for, helps the important pollinators in our nature, and is also completely safe for our paws. Big plus? The hazelnut is rarely affected by diseases and pests. Yippee!

  • Currants

    Currant bushes add colour (and vitamins B and C) to the garden. Even furry friends can enjoy the fruits – without any concerns.

    Growing currants requires some prior knowledge, but when the first berries ripen, the invested effort undoubtedly pays off.

  • Early-flowering thyme, creeping thyme

    Your furry friend will love rolling around in the fragrant plant and being enchanted by its scent. The plant is easy to care for and works wonderfully in all sorts of delicious dishes!

  • Sunflowers

    This beautiful summer flower not only brings sunshine to your garden, but it can also be safely explored by your pet.

    None of the parts of the sunflower are toxic to dogs, making the plant an ideal addition to your garden.

Did you know?

If you spontaneously fall in love with a plant at your trusted gardener, but you're not sure if it's non-toxic for your furry housemate: The University of Zurich has developed a clever online tool that you can use to quickly determine whether the plant you've taken a fancy to can come home with you or is better left at the gardener's.

Ready, set, garden!

Poisonous Plants

Poisonous Plants for Dogs

  • Ficus
  • House fern
  • Hyacinth
  • Daffodil
  • Tulip
  • Poinsettia
  • Crocu
  • Oleander
  • Anthurium
  • Azalea
  • Philodendron
  • Yew
  • Elderberry
  • Boxwood
  • Holly
  • Daphne
  • Laburnum
  • Lilac
  • Juniper
  • Rowan
  • Rhododendron
  • Belladonna
  • Primrose
  • Foxglove
  • Hydrangea
  • Bluebell
  • Lily of the Valley
  • Angel's Trumpet

Would you like to check if your plants are poisonous? The University of Zurich can help with their 'CliniTox' tool, which you can find directly here.

Please note that the list above is not a complete list of all poisonous plants.

Possible symptoms of poisoning

  • Apathy
  • Restlessness
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Salivation
  • Cramps, muscle tremors, seizures
  • Severely elevated or low body temperature
  • Disorientation
  • Difficulty breathing/respiratory paralysis
  • Colic

As a pet owner, you know your furry friend best. Is your pet suddenly not acting like themselves?

What to do in case of poisoning?

  • Administer activated charcoal tablets (if the dog is still able to swallow)
  • Clear the airways (or keep them clear)
  • Prevent vomiting (some toxins can have corrosive properties)
  • Call a vet

The list of harmless plants is long – so your furry friend and their housemates are spoilt for choice. Luckily, there's a tool that quickly determines whether a plant is harmless or shouldn't be brought into your cozy home.

So, will you be getting some new green additions to your home soon? Do you have non-toxic and beautiful plants at home that aren't listed here?

Image Sources:

Image 'Dog with branch': Jamie Street / Unsplash
Image 'Dog with flowers': Jamie Street / Unsplash
Image 'Husky in flowers': Ilona Mester / Unsplash
Image 'Lemon tree': Ernest Porzi / Unsplash
Image 'Money tree (Pachira)': Photo by feey on Unsplash
Image 'Money tree (Crassula)': Kyla Henry on Unsplash
Image 'Bird's Nest Fern': IzKant00 / Pixabay
Image 'Bromeliad': Guilherme Silva on Unsplash
Image 'Boston fern': Ruben Sukatendel / Unsplash
Image 'Hazelnut bush': Hans / Pixabay
Image 'Currants': 💚🌺💚Nowaja💚🌺💚 / Pixabay
Image 'Sunflowers': Leopictures / Pixabay
Image 'early blooming thyme': Hans on Pixabay

Sources:

https://www.plantura.garden/gruenes-leben/kinder-und-haustiere/ungiftige-pflanzen-fuer-hunde
https://www.vetpharm.uzh.ch/perldocs/toxsyqry.htm