Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - May 31, 2013
From: Rochelle, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Vines
Title: Climbing Vine for Illinois That is Non-Toxic to Dogs
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
I am looking for a climbing vine hardy in Illinois (zone 5) that it non-toxic to dogs. Can you help?ANSWER:
The first place to go to find a list of potential plants is our Native Plant Database. Use the Combination Search feature instead of Recommended Species. This will provide a bigger selection with much more choice to narrow down. The volunteers and staff at the Wildflower Center who maintain the database have partners in different regions to help with these recommended species lists based on what is easy to access in local nurseries.
Under Combination Search, select the following categories: State – Illinois, Habit – vine, and Duration – perennial. You can narrow down this search further by indicating soil moisture, light requirements, blooming time and bloom color too.
This search criteria will give you 64 vines to consider. Follow each plant link to our webpage for that plant to learn its growing conditions, bloom time, etc. At the bottom of each plant webpage, under Additional Resources, there is a link to the USDA webpage for that plant. Take a look there for more specific details about suitability before you put them on your final planting list.
Once you have a dozen or so climbing vines selected, then compare it to the ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plant lists for dogs.
Here are some vines that do not appear on the ASPCA "toxic to dogs" list that are hardy in zone 5:
Ampelopsis arborea (peppervine),
Ampelopsis cordata (heartleaf peppervine),
Artistolochia tomentosa (woolly dutchman's pipe),
Campsis radicans (trumpet creeper),
Cocculus carolinus (Carolina snailseed),
Galactia volubilis (downy milkpea),
Lonicera sempervirens (coral honeysuckle),
Vitus riparia (riverbank grape)
From the Image Gallery
More Poisonous Plants Questions
Is non-native cotoneaster poisonous to goats from Eureka CA
August 19, 2011 - I have heard that cotoneaster is poisonous to goats and other animals. We are trying to get rid of it in our yard, but I was hoping we could use goats to eat it back. What are our options in removin...
view the full question and answer
Can hackberry twigs and leaves be safely used in compost?
March 05, 2009 - If Hackberry trees and leaves have growth inhibiting compounds, should they not be used in compost piles?
view the full question and answer
Removing poison ivy in Cuba MO
August 27, 2011 - I bought a home with a huge bed of hybrid iris but the bed is thick with poison ivy. If I cover myself head to toe to prevent getting it is there a way to clean the tubers so they will not be poison? ...
view the full question and answer
Non-toxic plants for dog yard from Freeport PA
June 24, 2012 - I'm looking for wildlife-friendly native plants that aren't toxic to dogs. I have a place for some small shrubs and/or flowers. And a climbing vine that I could train on a trellis would work espec...
view the full question and answer
Are Smilax species toxic?
October 23, 2009 - I have a plant that the agriculture department told me was similax. I have a severe allergic reaction to it, after digging up the roots (potato) and burning them. I had a feeling my lungs inside were ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |