With warmer temperatures coming our way, it’s likely you and your pets will be spending more time outdoors. But did you know that your garden might contain plants that could poison your pet?
According to MORE TH>N, 78% of British gardens contain plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. I admit it, even I didn’t know all of the plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. And I’m not alone; one in every three pet owners (31%) admitting they have no idea if the plants and flowers in their gardens are toxic.
That’s why MORE TH>N Pet Insurance has set up their Pet Safe Plant Campaign; a campaign which is raising awareness to the clear and present dangers that lurk in your garden and homes. They are directly campaigning for plant producers, manufacturers of garden products and retailers to provide clearer labelling to help pet owners easily identify if items are safe or harmful to cats and dogs.
As a pet owner, I’m sure you’re with me on wanting to help protect your precious fur babies from being poisoned – and worse still, from death. MORE TH>N has enlisted the help of a number of famous faces to help to promote the campaign, like Charlie Dimmock and this year’s RHS Gold Winner, Ian Drummond, who has made a rather unusual creation called the Poisonous Pawtanical Garden, to try to hammer home which plants could potentially kill your pets.
The creation of the world’s most dangerous garden to cats and dogs
To kick start the campaign, MORE TH>N has commission the RHS Gold medal winner, Ian Drummond to create the world’s most dangerous garden to cats and dogs.
Launched at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London at the beginning of June, the garden will be taken to different locations throughout the capital by the charity Core Landscapes – so look out for it coming to a town near you!
I had no idea that some of the flowers planted in the poisonous garden could be toxic to my cat. I’m ashamed to admit that I have one of them in full bloom in my garden! And sadly, I’m not alone. According to research, Almost 10% of cats and dogs have ingested poisonous plants or flowers. Of those, 43% subsequently needed urgent veterinary care, while 15% sadly passed away. It’s a painful statistic but something that could be avoided if green fingered pet owners were more aware of.
So which plants are the most dangerous to cats and dogs?
A few of the plants in the poisonous garden include: Begonia, Buxus Pyramiden, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Cordyline, Daisy, Dahlia, Elderberry, Foxglove, Grape plant, Hydrangea, Hedera Ivy, Lilies (variety), Cherry Laurel, Marigold, Nerium Oleander, Paeonia mix, Papaver Poppy, Tomato plant and Wisteria.
But if you’re particularly concerned here’s a summary list I pulled from MORE TH>N’s website which cites the common toxic plants to avoid in the garden:
| PLANT NAME | POISONOUS FOR CATS | POISONOUS FOR DOGS |
| ALOE VERA | ✔ | ✔ |
| AMARYLLIS (BULBS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ANGELS TRUMPET (BRUGMANSIA) | ✔ | ✔ |
| APPLE (SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| APRICOTS (KERNELS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ASPARAGUS FERN | ✔ | ✔ |
| AVOCADO (FRUIT, PITH, LEAVES) | ✔ | ✔ |
| AZALEA (ALL PARTS) | Rare | ✔ |
| BABY’S BREATH | ✔ | ✔ |
| BEGONIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| BIRD OF PARADISE (PODS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| BISHOP’S WEED | ✔ | ✔ |
| BLEEDING HEART (DICENTRA FORMOSA) | ✔ | ✔ |
| BLUEBELL | ✔ | ✔ |
| BUXUS / BOX (ALL PARTS, MOSTLY LEAVES) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CARNATION | ✔ | ✔ |
| CLEMATIS (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CORDYLINE (GRASS PALM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CROCUS (ALL) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CHRYSANTHEMUM (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CYCLAMEN (FOLIAGE, FLOWERS, STEMS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAFFODIL (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAISY | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAHLIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAPHNE (BERRIES, BARK, LEAVES) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DEADLY NIGHTSHADE | ✔ | ✔ |
| DELPHINIUM (ALL PARTS ESPECIALLY THE SPROUTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ELEPHANTS EARS (LEAVES, STEMS, ROOTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ELDERBERRY (LEAVES, BARK, ROOTS AND BUDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| EUCALYPTUS (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOXGLOVE / DIGITALIS (LEAVES, STEMS, FLOWERS, SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| GARLIC | ✔ | ✔ |
| GARDENIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| GERANIUM (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| GLADIOLA (BULBS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| GRAPE PLANT/VINE | N/a | ✔ |
| HELLEBORE | ✔ | ✔ |
| HIBISCUS | ✔ | ✔ |
| HOLLY (LEAVES, BERRIES & STEMS) | ✔ | Rare |
| HOSTA | Rare | ✔ |
| HYACINTH (BULBS, LEAVES, FLOWERS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| HYDRANGEA (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| IRIS (BULBS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| IVY (ALL SPECIES – LEAVES, BERRIES) | Rare | ✔ |
| JAPANESE YEW (NEEDLES, SEEDS, BARK) | Rare | ✔ |
| LABURNUM (LEAVES AND SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| LARKSPUR (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| LILLIES (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | N/a |
| LIME | ✔ | ✔ |
| LILY OF THE VALLEY (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| LEOPARD LILY | N/a | ✔ |
| LOBELIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| LUPIN (ALL PARTS) | Rare | Rare |
| MALLOW | ✔ | ✔ |
| MARIGOLD (NEW LEAVES, STEMS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| MISTLETOE | ✔ | ✔ |
| MONKSHOOD/ ACONITE (ROOTS, FOLIAGE, SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| MORNING GLORY (ALL PARTS) |
What could happen to pets if these plants are ingested?
According to vet and consultant on the garden, Robert White-Adams, “As a nation of animal lovers we’ll do anything to not put our pets at harm. What this campaign reveals is the hidden dangers many of us wouldn’t even be aware of. Each plant has been chosen to show just how many common varieties can make our pets ill, or worse still, die if not treated immediately by a vet.”
What can you do to stop pets from being poisoned?
Firstly, check the summary list above to see if you have any of these plants in your home or garden. I also recommend taking this list with you when you go to buy seeds.
And finally, if you want to raise further awareness to stop more unsuspecting owners from loosing their pets, why not share the video and this list on your own blog.
Thanks for reading.
