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Choosing plants is one of the best parts of creating or updating a garden, but this step requires extra thought if you share your yard with a dog. Since many common plants are toxic to dogs, it’s important to choose pup-safe garden plants in case your curious canine takes a nibble.
To help you plan your garden with confidence, we’ve rounded up dog-safe garden plants, including herbs, flowers, shrubs, and groundcover plants, that are easy to find, reasonably priced, and well-suited to a variety of outdoor conditions.
15 Dog-Safe Plants for Color, Variety, and Fragrance
The plants listed below are considered dog-safe, according to Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, senior veterinary toxicologist and director of veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. However, Dr. Schmid notes that eating too much of any plant, even non-toxic ones, can cause stomach upset in dogs.
These dog-safe plants are typically easy to find at local home improvement stores, garden centers, or hardware stores as seeds, young starts, or potted plants. They are also widely available through online gardening retailers. Before buying, take note of a plant’s USDA hardiness zones, which tell you whether a perennial is likely to thrive in your region.
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Poliuszko via iStock
Coral bells are versatile, mounding plants known for their diverse, colorful foliage (silver, red, lime) and dainty, pollinator-friendly flowers.
- Classification: Flowering; mounding
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate; somewhat drought tolerant once established
- Appeal: Pollinator attraction; color variety; easy to grow; deer resistant
- Light preference: Full sun, partial sun, or shade (best color in partial shade)
- Pair this plant with: Partial shade plants, such as magnolias, fuchsias, and camellias, or ornamental grasses, such as Hakone grass
Marigolds (Tagetes)
HansJoachim via iStock
These cheery, pup-friendly flowers add warmth to gardens with their orange, red, or yellow blooms. They’re hardy and easy to grow, as long as they get adequate sunshine.
- Classification: Flowering
- Lifecycle: Annuals or perennials, depending on the type
- Climate: Warm, sunny
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Bold seasonal colors; pollinator attraction; repels pests
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as zinnias, herbs like basil, or vegetable garden plants
Camellias (Camellia)
SUNGMOON HAN via iStock
Camellias are small trees (or shrubs) loved for their showy pink, red, or white blooms in late winter and early spring. They also have evergreen leaves, meaning they remain full and green year-round.
- Classification: Shrub
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Early-season blooms; evergreen leaves
- Light preference: Partial shade
- Pair this plant with: Partial shade plants, such as magnolias, fuchsia, and coral bells
Fuchsias (Fuchsia magellanica)
phanasitti via iStock
Fuchsias are striking flowering plants known for their tubular blooms and distinctive dangling stamens. They’re ideal for planting on shaded porches or in hanging baskets protected by a patio.
- Classification: Flowering
- Lifecycle: Perennials (annuals in cold climates)
- Climate: Cool temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Showy blooms; container-friendly growth
- Light preference: Partial shade
- Pair this plant with: Partial-shade plants, such as camellias, coral bells, and magnolias
Magnolia bushes (Magnolia spp.)
Kristina Chizmar via iStock
A pretty pick for a dog-friendly garden, these flowering shrubs produce large, saucer-like spring blooms in white, pink, or purple. Their glossy, dark green leaves are evergreen, and their fragrant flowers add a lovely scent to the landscape.
- Classification: Flowering tree or shrub
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Warm temperate to semitropical climates
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9
- Maintenance level: Medium
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Showy blooms; landscape structure
- Light preference: Partial shade (full sun acceptable in places with cool summers)
- Pair this plant with: Partial shade plants, such as camellias, coral bells, and fuchsias
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
Olga Yastremska via iStock
These pup-safe flowers are easy to grow and instantly uplifting—there’s just something about them that makes a garden feel happier!
- Classification: Flowering
- Lifecycle: Annuals (may reseed naturally)
- Climate: Warm, sunny
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Bold height; pollinator attraction; visual impact
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as marigolds, nasturtiums, zinnias, rosemary, basil, blue star creeper, Russian sage, and blue fescue
Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum)
Angeline Teixeira via iStock
These dog-safe flowers are wonderfully unfussy and feature bright, cheerful blooms that spill and trail beautifully through gardens and containers. As a bonus, they’re edible and can be used in salads or other dishes!
- Classification: Flowering, ground cover
- Lifecycle: Annuals (may be perennial in frost-free zones)
- Climate: Cool temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Edible flowers; pollinator attraction
- Light preference: Full sun, partial sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, rosemary, basil, Russian sage, blue star creeper, and blue fescue
Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
weisschr via iStock
This fast-spreading groundcover produces hundreds of dainty flowers in summer, creating a soft, storybook feel wherever it spreads. It also tolerates foot (and paw) traffic well, making it a great lawn alternative for adding color and texture to your landscape.
- Classification: Ground cover
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-8
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Lawn alternative; soft ground cover; delicate blooms
- Light preference: Full sun, partial sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, rosemary, basil, nasturtiums, Russian sage, and blue fescue
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.)
Zinnias via iStock
These beginner-friendly flowers thrive in sunny gardens and produce long-lasting blooms. They come in nearly every color imaginable, including vibrant shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, purple, and white.
- Classification: Flowering
- Lifecycle: Annuals
- Climate: Warm, sunny
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Long bloom season; pollinator attraction; vibrant color
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, rosemary, basil, Russian sage, blue star creeper, and blue fescue
Russian Sage (Salvia yangii)
Tatiana Terekhina via iStock
This hardy, drought-tolerant plant is known for its airy spires of lavender-blue flowers and silvery-gray foliage.
- Classification: Flowering
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Dry, warm, sunny
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Low
- Appeal: Drought tolerance; texture; long-lasting blooms
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, rosemary, basil, zinnias, blue star creeper, and blue fescue
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Pikusisi-Studio via iStock
Basil is a fast-growing, aromatic herb with tender green leaves and a fresh, savory scent. It’s easy to grow in garden beds or containers, and you can use the leaves in a wide range of dishes, from pastas to salads.
- Classification: Herb
- Lifecycle: Annuals
- Climate: Warm, sunny
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Edible leaves; fragrance; easy to grow
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Vegetable gardens and sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, rosemary, basil, zinnias, blue star creeper, and blue fescue
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
freedom_naruk via iStock
Rosemary is a hardy, evergreen herb known for its needle-like leaves and pine-like aroma. It thrives in sunny gardens or containers and can be harvested year-round to season a wide range of dishes.
- Classification: Herb
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Warm, dry, sunny (with mild, wet winters)
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Low; drought tolerant once established
- Appeal: Edible leaves; fragrance
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Vegetable gardens and sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, basil, zinnias, blue star creeper, creeping thyme, and blue fescue
Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
undefined undefined via iStock
Hakone grass is an ornamental grass with arching, cascading blades that add soft movement to the garden. It works well along pathways, borders, or shaded beds, and won’t hurt curious pups who take a nibble.
- Classification: Ornamental grass
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Cool temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Moderate
- Appeal: Soft texture; movement; showy
- Light preference: Full or partial shade
- Pair this plant with: Partial-shade plants, such as camellias, coral bells, fuchsia, and magnolias
Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
photohampster via iStock
This dog-friendly ornamental grass is known for its blue-gray foliage and mound-forming shape. It’s drought tolerant, low maintenance, and works well as a border plant or accent in sunny gardens.
- Classification: Ornamental grass
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Cool temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Low
- Appeal: Color contrast; drought tolerance; tidy shape
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, basil, zinnias, blue star creeper, creeping thyme, and blue fescue
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
fotokate via iStock
This low-growing, aromatic ground cover forms a dense mat of tiny leaves and delicate pink or purple flowers. It spreads easily between stepping stones and along borders.
- Classification: Shrub; ground cover
- Lifecycle: Perennials
- Climate: Temperate
- U.S. regions: Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water usage: Low
- Appeal: Fragrance; ground coverage; pollinator attraction
- Light preference: Full sun
- Pair this plant with: Sun-loving plants, such as sunflowers, marigolds, basil, zinnias, blue star creeper, and blue fescue
FAQs About Building a Dog-Friendly Garden
What makes dog-safe perennial plants good for gardening?
Dog-safe perennials are a great option because once they’re established, they come back year after year with minimal maintenance. That means less replanting and fewer worries if your dog accidentally tramples the plants.
What can I plant instead of grass for dogs?
If you’re looking for lower-maintenance alternatives to traditional lawns, ground covers, such as blue star creeper or creeping thyme, are a great option. They typically require less watering, mowing, and maintenance while still providing your dog with a comfortable place to relax and roam.
How do I keep my dog from destroying my plants or garden?
Dog-safe doesn’t mean dog-proof. A few practical ways to keep your dog from damaging your plants or garden include:
- Raised beds to make certain plants less accessible
- Fencing to block off specific planting areas
- Large pots or containers to keep delicate plants off the ground
- Hanging baskets to keep plants out of reach
- Designated paths or play zones to give your dog a clear place to walk, run, or relax, so they’re less tempted to cut through your garden beds
Will dog pee kill my plants?
It can. Dog urine is high in nitrogen, which plants need in small amounts, but too much acts like a fertilizer overload. Repeated urination in the same spot can damage plants over time.
What other garden plants are good for dogs?
In addition to the plants covered above, many commonly used garden plants are considered dog-safe. A few options to explore include:
- Herbs: Parsley, thyme, cilantro
- Shrubs: Weigela, jasmine, bottlebrush
- Trees: Crape myrtle, Eastern redbud, bottle palm
- Flowers: Snapdragons, African daisies, pansies, asters
- Grasses: Bamboo, fountain grass, “Karl Foerster” feather reed grass
It’s always a good idea to check any plant before adding it to your yard. You can use Rover’s plant safety database to look up specific plants and confirm whether they’re safe for dogs.
If your dog appears to be having a negative reaction to any plant, contact your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 for advice, or take them to a pet ER.
