Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Sunday - July 01, 2012

From: Sacramento, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Poisonous Plants, Drought Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Trees
Title: California plants poisonous to dogs from Sacramento
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Found dodonea viscosa purple. Is it poisonous to dogs? Also Gold Star Potentilla. Going drought tolerant and need small trees, shrubs and plants not poisonous to dogs for sun and partial sun.

ANSWER:

Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (Golden-hardhack) is native to North America as well as Sacramento County, CA. Here is another website on Dasiphora fruticosa (Shrubby cinquefoil) 'Gold Star,' which looks like another species of the same plant that has been given a trade name.

Here is a website on 'Dodonea viscosa 'Purpurea' which is native to Australia and New Zealand and is therefore out of our range of expertise, as we recommend only plants native to the area in which they are being grown.

Here is a previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer that will give you resources for searching for poisonous plants; it is always more accurate to search on the scientific names.

For your other California native plant needs, we want to refer you to Las Pilitas Nursery. It has lots more plants listed than we do, with pictures and care instructions. Between that and the lists of poisonous plants, you should be in good shape!

 

From the Image Gallery


Shrubby cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda

Shrubby cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa

More Drought Tolerant Questions

Due to drought is pruning live oaks beneficial from Houston
December 07, 2011 - Would it be beneficial (presuming a continued spring drought) to prune live oak trees more severely than usual this winter? I'm thinking that it might help them to have less mass to support.
view the full question and answer

Native Plant for a Sunny South-facing House Wall in Tucson
March 01, 2014 - I have a problematic block wall on the south side of the house and I what a plant to soften the look of the wall. I tried butterfly bush which I'm told died from of bounce-back heat from the wall. I ...
view the full question and answer

Converting a Texas backyard to grow Xerophytic native plants
January 09, 2015 - I am planning the conversion of our backyard, about 4000 sq ft of largely St Augustine, into a grassless landscape of hardscaping and native plants. I’ve been an avid gardener of rock garden plants i...
view the full question and answer

Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions
April 29, 2013 - We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h...
view the full question and answer

Antelope Resistant Plants for Casper, Wyoming
August 12, 2011 - What are some drought resistant, full-sun plants for Wyoming that are Antelope resistant - Deer are not much of a problem, but antelope are!
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.