Common Garden Herbs Harmful To Pets
Plants in Gardens
Many herbs can be toxic to pets. Most are not expected to be life-threatening to them, or actually be very toxic. However, they can make a pet sick if ingested, and especially affect their intestinal tract - does not sound pretty !Even commonly used or ordinary garden plants like Lavender, Oregano, or Mint can fall into this group. My beloved Chamomile as well !
Pets in Gardens
cats out !
As a pet owner, you should know which herbs could hurt them. Also good to know is where is the toxin located on the plant, and will your pet be able to reach the toxic parts.You should also know you pet’s habit. Some are diggers and/or chewers, and may be more at risk. Most will simply ignore the garden plants. Puppies will chew on everything !The best advice we can give is - DO NOT leave your pets unattended in the garden if you are concerned about their habits.
Plant Selection
Plant Specialists is very aware of the need to be super careful when selecting herbs for a garden visited by pets (or children for that matter). In general, we do not use or recommend using highly toxic plants – no matter how pretty they may be! We see it as an unnecessary risk considering all the other options and plant choices available.Sweet peas, Rhubarb, and Saffron for example are pretty toxic - we never install them in gardens with either children or pets.
What If your pet gets sick
If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, or if you have any further questions regarding their symptoms, contact either your local veterinarian or the APCC 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435.You may also visit the ASPCA website.https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
Plant Review
As follows is a horticultural review arranged alphabetically by Genus. It only focuses on outdoor herbs commonly grown in gardens.I did add a few veggies and fruits worth mentioning !
Allium (Chives, garlic and onions)
Species: Allium schoenoprasum - Chives
Species: Allium sativum / Common Name: Garlic
Species: Allium cepa / Common Name: Onion
Uses: Garden Herb used in cooking
Symptoms: Vomiting, weakness, high heart rate, panting
Toxin: N-propyl disulfide
Aloysia (Lemon verbena)
Species: Aloysia triphylla - Lemon Verbena
Uses: Garden herb used as a tea
Symptoms: Stomach upset, colic
Toxin: Essential oils
Anthemis (Chamomile)
Species: Anthemis nobilis - Chamomile
Uses: Garden Herb use for tea
Symptoms: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reactions.
Toxin: Volatile oil bisabolol, chamazulene, anthemic acid, tannic acid
Artemisia (Tarragon)
Species: Artemisia dracunculus - Tarragon
Uses: Garden Herb used in cooking
Symptoms: Mild vomiting and diarrhea
Toxin: Volatile oils
Borage (Borage)
Species: Borage officinalis - Borage
Uses: Garden Herb
Symptoms: Toxic to dogs, and cats.Can cause vomiting, diarrhea and dermatitis
Toxin: Borage tannins and mucilage.
Capsicum (Peppers)
Species: Capsicum genus - Peppers
Uses: Garden herb used in cooking
Symptoms: Highly irritant causing pain when eaten—pain in the lips, mucus membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Contact with the skin or eyes is also painful.
Toxin: Capsacin
Chenopodium (Epazote)
Species: Chenopodium ambrosioides - Epazote
Uses: Garden Herb used in Mexican cooking
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea
Toxin: ascaridole, limonene, p-cymene
Colchicum (Saffron)
Species: Colchicum autumnale - Autumn crocus, Saffron crocus
Uses: Stamens are picked to make saffron
Symptoms: Very severe gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, black tarry stool, organ damage, respiratory failure, kidney failure and death.
Toxin: Colchicine and other alkaloids
Cymbopogon (Lemongrass)
Species: Cymbopogon citratus - Lemongrass
Used: Garden herb used in Asian cooking
Symptoms: Stomach upset
Toxin: Essential oils, cyanogenic glycosides
Humulus (Hops)
Species: Humulus lupulus - Hops
Uses: Garden vine used to flavor beer
Symptoms: elevated temperature, seizures or death.
Toxin: Undiscovered
Hypericum (St. John’s Wort)
Species: Hypericum perforatum - St. John’s Wort
Uses: Garden herb used as a tea
Symptoms: Photosensitization (ulcerative and exudative dermatitis).
Toxin: Hypericin
Lathyrus (Sweet pea)
Species: Lathyrus latifolius - Sweet pea
Uses: Garden vegetable
Symptoms: Weakness, lethargy, pacing, head pressing, tremors, seizures, possible death
Toxin: Aminoproprionitrite
Lavandula (Lavender)
Species: Lavandula genus - Lavender, English Lavender, French Lavender
Uses: Garden perennial
Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting (not in horses), no appetite. Dogs can become sick by eating a large amount of lavender from the plant or essential oils.
Toxin: Linalool, linalyl acetate
Levisticum (Lovage)
Species: Levisticum officinale - Lovage
Uses: Garden herb used in cooking
Symptoms: muscle cramps, increased urination, and dizziness
Toxin: volatile oils, phthalide lactones, and it’s a diuretic.
Lycopersicum (Tomato)
Species: Lycopersicum genus - Tomato
Uses: Garden vegetable
Symptoms: tomato vines, green tomatoes, and leaves can cause Hyper salivation, no appetite, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate.
Toxin: Solanine and Tomatine
Malus (Apple)
Species: Malus sylvestrus - Apple, Crabapples
Uses: Fruiting and ornamental fruit trees
Symptoms: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting.Causing brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
Toxin: Cyanogenic glycosides
Mentha (Mint)
Species: Mentha genus - Mint, Garden Mint, Peppermint
Uses: Garden herb
Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions
Toxin: Volatile oils
Origanum (Marjoram)
Species: Origanum marjorama - Marjoram
Uses: Garden herb used in cooking
Symptoms: Mild vomiting and diarrhea
Toxin: Gastrointestinal irritants
Origanum (Oregano)
Species: Origanum vulgare hirtum - Oregano
Uses: Garden herb used in cooking
Symptoms: Mild vomiting and diarrhea
Toxin: Gastrointestinal irritants
Petroselinum (Italian Parsley)
Species: Petroselinum crispum - Italian Parsley
Uses: Garden herb used in cooking
Symptoms: Photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis), large amounts are needed to cause this effect
Toxin: Furanocoumarins
Prunus (Apricot, Cherry, Black cherry, Plum, Peach)
Species: Prunus armeniaca - Apricot
Species: Prunus serotineCommon Name: Black Cherry
Species: Prunus domesticaCommon Name: Plum
Species: Prunus persicaCommon Name: Peach
Species: Prunus virginianaCommon Name: Choke Cherry
Species: Prunus aviumCommon Name: Sweet Cherry
Uses: Fruiting and ornamental fruit trees
Symptoms: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting.Causing brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
Toxin: Cyanogenic glycosides
Rheum (Rhubarb)
Species: Rheum rhabarbarum - Rhubarb
Uses: A garden vegetable used in cooking
Symptoms: Drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, tremors, blood in urine, changes to thirst, and urination.
Toxin:oxalate crystals
Solanum (Potato)
Species: Solanum tuberosum - Potato
Uses: Garden vegetable
Symptoms: potato stems, flowers and fruit, green potatoes, potato eyes, green potato skins can cause Hyper salivation, no appetite, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate.
Toxin: Solanine
For the best pet friendly Herb Garden - ever !
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PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !
Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK