15 Dog-Friendly Plants for Your Garden - Great Garden Plants Blog (2024)

1.) Catmint

(Nepeta)

It may be called catmint, but it’s dog-friendly too! It’s one of the longest-blooming perennials on the market, providing over 5 months of flowers. It has strong stems, so it can handle some disturbance from a curious dog. Plus, the fragrant foliage may be a nice perfume for your pup!

2.) Crapemyrtle

(Lagerstroemia)

Crapemyrtle is known for bringing drama to the garden, even when it’s not blooming! Vibrant flowers and colorful foliage make it hard to not stop and stare in the summer. If this shrub catches your dog’s eye too, no worries. It’s non-toxic and vigorous, so it can handle a few nibbles.

3.) Astilbe

(Astilbe)

Your pup might not be the fluffiest thing in your garden! Astilbe adds whimsical texture to every landscape with fluffy spikes of flowers. They’re wonderful shade perennials, known for their dark fern-like foliage and plume-like flowers. It’s non-toxic, durable, and low maintenance.

4.) Perennial Hibiscus

(Hibiscus)

Easy to care for and beaming with vivid blooms, hardy hibiscusis the perfect perennial for the summer. This attention-grabbing plant isn’t just dog-friendly; it’s pollinator-friendly too! Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees will happily visit the flowers, as long as your pup doesn’t chase them away.

5.) Thyme

(Thymus)

Thyme is a low-growing herbaceous perennial with fragrant foliage. Soft green foliage is aromatic when touched or crushed. It’s safe to eat fresh or dry, even for humans. It’s durable enough to handle some foot traffic (and paw traffic), so plant it around your stepping stones and pathways!

6.) Tickseed

(Coreopsis)

The non-stop blooms of tickseed (Coreopsis) will turn heads in your garden! You can rely on the vibrant flowers to continually bloom without any deadheading. Don’t worry; it doesn’t attract ticks but has small dark seeds that resemble little bugs (hence the name). Make sure your dog has their tick meds anyways!

7.) Black-Eyed Susan

(Rudbeckia)

Black-eyed Susan brings glowing color late in the season, just when it’s needed the most! Hundreds of cheerful flowers bloom in late summer and float high above dark green foliage and handle summer heat with grace. The plant is non-toxic, and with so many flowers, there’s no way your dog can eat them all!

8.) Russian Sage

(Perovskia)

With strong stems and an upright habit, Russian sage is the perfect accent plant in tough, hot, dry gardens. Blue-purple flowers persist all summer. It needs little water or maintenance to stay looking fresh! It’s a semi-woody perennial that is durable enough to handle a rambunctious dog. After my dogs run through it, they come out smelling amazing!

9.) Cranesbill

(Geranium)

Cranesbill, or perennial geranium, is more durable than it looks! Nothing seems to stop this vigorous ground cover. It boasts heat and drought tolerance, is not subject to insects or disease, and is deer resistant. It’ll keep glowing in the landscape, even if your dog pesters it. It’s non-toxic, but dogs generally don’t like the taste anyway.

10.) Creeping Phlox

(Phlox subulata)

Creeping phlox may have dainty spring-time flowers, but this ground cover is tough-as-nails! It’s highly adaptable and able to thrive in challenging sites, like slopes, rocky areas, and borders. It grows to form a lush carpet of foliage and flowers that are non-toxic. It’s unbothered by deer and will hopefully be unbothered by your dog, too!

11.) Forsythia

(Forsythia)

Greet spring with extra enthusiasm each year with Forsythia blooms in your garden! Flowers are densely packed in tight clusters along the entire length of the stem. If your dog picks flowers off the stem or eats them as they fall to the ground, it’s ok. They’re non-toxic! This durable landscape plant is ready to shine.

12.) Coral Bells

(Heuchera)

Coral bells are cherished for their colorful foliage that persists from spring to fall. Leaves grow to form a lovely mound of foliage. Thankfully, all parts of this plant are non-toxic! Though it is fairly durable, it might not appreciate a trampling from your pup. Try planting it in a pot to avoid any paw traffic and ripped leaves from your dog.

13.) Maiden Grass

(Miscanthus sinensis)

Maiden grasses are the perfect addition to dog-friendly gardens! With long-narrow leaf blades that are non-toxic, your pup will love playing in the foliage. They’re more than just good looks; they’re also hardy, durable, and low maintenance. Watch them sway and rustle as your dog runs through them!

14.) Stonecrop

(Sedum)

Stonecrop ignites new life in your garden during late summer (a typically quiet time) when hundreds of starry blooms signal fall’s approach. It’s forgiving of heat, humidity, and drought so it stays looking fresh during hot months. It’s also non-toxic for pets, so you can relax knowing your dog will be safe!

15.) Roses

(Rosa)

You might be surprised to find roses on our list of dog-friendly plants! Yes, they have thorns, but that might actually be to your advantage. Plant them strategically as a barrier to keep your dog out of garden beds. Remove dead and dried branches promptly, as those have the sharpest thorns. If your dog is brave enough to try nibbling on rose flowers or leaves, it’s okay! They aren’t toxic.