Dog-safe plants

Dog-safe plants include Boston fern, calathea, pilea, fittonia, ornamental grasses and many herbs like basil, lemon balm and thyme. They contain no harmful compounds if your dog licks or bites them. In the atlas dog toxicity is tagged separately, so you can filter for species rated "none".

Plants toxic to dogs include yew, oleander, foxglove, lily of the valley, flower bulbs (tulips, daffodils) and the stones and leaves of Prunus species. Signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling or heart-rhythm problems. Many poisonings are serious, so contact a vet if you suspect your dog ate a plant.

Choose plants marked non-toxic, and place any potentially dangerous species out of reach or leave them out. Also avoid pesticides, slug pellets and cocoa mulch, which are toxic to dogs. Giving your dog space to play and some shade reduces the temptation to chew plants out of boredom.