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 Vines Questions
Plant identification of vine in Ohio
September 21, 2010 - I have a vine in my forest that grows up trees, that could eventually pull them over. It has roundleaves and prickers on the stem. What is this vine so I can research it?
view the full question and answer
Are berries of coral honeysuckle edible from Lufkin TX
May 21, 2013 - Are the berries of coral honeysuckle edible?
view the full question and answer
Plants wilting too quickly in Toledo OH
May 27, 2012 - The garden I have had recent issues with plants wilting all too quickly. I would like to know what types of plants would be hearty for the climate in Toledo, Ohio. I have a partly sunny front yard and...
view the full question and answer
Trailing milkvine, Matelea pubiflora, identified from seed pod
November 10, 2006 - I have a vine that has a seed pod that looks like okra. Inside the pod is a small flat seed and a cotton-looking fiber. Please help identify, if possible.
view the full question and answer
Will Hyacinth Beans and Cardinal vine (non-natives) grow in Texas?
April 28, 2007 - I live in Coppell, TX, and a neighbor gave me some Hyacinith Beans and Cardinal Vine seeds to plant. She described these as doing well in her local garden, but I cannot find a photo or picture of them...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |