There are so many beauties just waiting to impress
Our furry little friends will always be a priority in our lives. When planning out your exciting new garden display, filled with beautiful flowers and exotic plants, keep in mind that some varieties are better for our pets than others. If there’s a chance your adorable dog or cat may get to your plants, put in some time to research the varieties first and inform yourself on any health implications certain plants could cause to your pets. Thankfully, there are plenty of plants that are particularly pet-friendly and may even provide some health benefits.
Lavender
One fantastic plant that will benefit your pets is lavender, as it is known to provide a strong calming sense, particularly in dogs.
Highly fragrant and beautifully coloured, lavender is a true treat and mild exposure can help reduce anxiety, depression, or stress in a pooch.
This is not only good for the domesticated animals in our lives, but buzzing garden guests as well.
For example, the English Lavender ‘Hidcote’ has even been awarded the RHS Perfect Pollinators award, owing to its overall benefits and attractiveness to bees and butterflies.
Rosemary
Check out the ingredients list on tins and pouches of dog food, and we are sure you will spot rosemary, as it is regularly used as a preservative.
Highly scented, even if a dog does take a bite of a planted rosemary do not fret, as it contains some of the vital vitamins they need in their diet!
A clear added benefit of growing rosemary is the incredibly satisfying garden to kitchen feeling you will get when plucking a sprig of rosemary directly from the plant to add flavour to a stew, stuffing, or marinade.
Have you taken any photos of your pets in your expertly crafted garden? Show them off here!
Bottlebrush
Many trees, shrubs and flowers give off a fantastic scent, which cats adore. For example, Callistemon ‘Bottlebrush’ is a fragrant tree with a lemon-tinged perfume.
This will not only be adored by cats, but also all-important busy pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to ensure your garden becomes a busy haven, teeming with wildlife.
The Callistemon ‘Bottlebrush’ is an evergreen tree, so will bring year-round interest to a garden, while exploding with a firework of red coloured brush blooms in the early weeks of the summer.
Another very popular flower variety that bursts with colour each year are stocks. Enjoy months of colour with these plants, plus a scent that cats particularly enjoy.
Cottage garden favourites, these hardy annuals produce a heavenly scent and are nectar-rich to draw pollinators.
Marigolds
Another colourful floral beauty that is planted by many for their pleasing aesthetic and remarkable scent. Plus, Marigolds are great pest repellents, deterring ticks, fleas, aphids, and more. Many of these creatures can be harmful to pets, so the addition of Marigolds is a top idea.
Besides their usefulness in the garden, Marigolds are of course summertime beauties. Such as the eye-catching shades of the Marigold Durango Mix – a holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Which plants are not pet-friendly?
Make sure to do your research, as all species will have different levels of toxicity and risk level for pets.
Some plants may cause mild stomach pains when ingested, but others can be more dangerous and cause serious health implications.
According to pet charity PDSA, there are many plants that can cause serious symptoms in pets. These include autumn crocus, azalea/rhododendron, cordyline/dracaena, horse chestnut, oak, peace lilies and yew, among others.
