
The Good and the Bad on Plants with our Pets
Prepared by MG Mary Ann Mezzapelle
Landscaping and gardening are trending hobbies, especially for many people during the pandemic. But, do you realize that many plants and pets may not mix? On our property, I’m focusing on native plants and mostly fighting back nature. But, a bad experience with a pet has left me more aware of how many plants may be toxic to our pets.
I’m new to gardening in Ellis County and am also a boomerang –I grew up in the county, moved away and am now back living the country life with my husband and two block-headed Labrador Retriever puppies. So, identifying toxic plants has become my priority. Your situation may be different. You may have an older pet that is reliable but our pups’ business is to find and chew everything in sight.
The veterinary experts at Texas A&M suggest using the ASPCA Toxic Plant list to determine toxicity of plants for pets. Plants sources were ranked as the fifth most common cause of
incidents on the ASPCA annual 2021 toxin list.
If you have pets, you may already know to avoid sago palms, elephant ears, azaleas, lilies and bulb plants like amaryllis, tulip and daffodil. But did you also know the following are toxic?
Toxic plants
- Aloe vera – (Aloe barbadensis) – toxic to dogs, cats
- Buttercup – (Ranunculus spp.) – toxic to dogs, cats, horses
- Flag, Iris – (Iris species) – toxic to dogs, cats
- Foxglove – (Digitalis purpurea) – toxic to dogs, cats, horses
- Hemlock – (Conium maculatom) – highly toxic to dogs, cats, horses.
- Look-alikes are Hedge parsley (Torilis arvensis) and Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) –
which are not toxic.
- Look-alikes are Hedge parsley (Torilis arvensis) and Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) –
- Lantana – (Lantana camara) – toxic to dogs, cats, horses
- Milkweed – (Asclepias spp.), Butterfly weed – (Asclepias tuberosa) – toxic to dogs, cats, horses
- Butterfly Bush – (Buddleia davidii) – not toxic
- Primrose – (Primula vulgaris) – toxic to dogs, cats, horses
- Pink ladies, Evening primrose –(Oenothera speciosa) – not toxic
- Tomato plant – (Lycopersicon spp.) – toxic to dogs, cats, horses.
- Ripe fruit is not toxic.



This is a small sampling of plants. You may use the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) plant list online or download the mobile app (Apple – Animal Poison by ASPCA) for more extensive information.
Make sure you use the scientific name and confirm by a picture. I use internet apps like “Google Lens”, “iNaturalist” or “PictureThis”.
Also, remember to keep gardening products, fertilizers and chemicals out of reach.
Lastly, if you are managing small acreage, farms or ranchlands, contact Mark Arnold at the AgriLife Extension office for advice.
I suggest you classify plants before buying, look out for new plants each year in your yard, research the specific plant toxicity, know your pet’s behaviors and then decide how to respond.
Happy and safe fur-parenting.
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/toxic-plants-could-harm-pets/
https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/top-10-pet-toxins-2021
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/horse-plant-list
https://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/water/files/2014/01/central-texas-landscaping-plants-guide.pdf
Other Nuisance Plants for Pet Owners:
Although not toxic, these grassy weeds and forbs can be a big nuisance to people and pets:
- Burweed or sticker weed (Soliva pterosperma)
- Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum),
- Goathead or puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris)
- Hedge parsley (Torilis arvensis)
- Southern Sandspur/ Southern Sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus L.)
- Sandbur, stickers, Field sandbur, Grassbur (Cenchrus spinifex, Cenchrus incertus),
- Beggar’s Lice (Hackelia virginiana)
https://today.tamu.edu/2021/06/09/how-to-win-the-fight-against-stickers/
https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texas/texas-primer-the-sticker-bur/
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/parsons/search.php?category=Stickers



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