Your pets love spending time outside just as much as you do. Whether they're chasing squirrels, sunbathing on the patio, or exploring the landscape, your yard should be a place where the entire family can relax, including your four-legged family members.
During a recent television interview, Moon Valley Nurseries District Manager Niko shared some of his favorite pet-friendly plants that homeowners can confidently incorporate into their landscapes.
Our pets experience the landscape differently than we do. Dogs love to dig, chew on leaves, and explore every corner of the yard, while curious cats often nibble on plants or weave through garden beds. Because of these natural behaviors, the plants you choose matter just as much as where you plant them.
Planning your landscape with pet-friendly plants helps create an outdoor space that's both beautiful and safer for your furry family members. By selecting non-toxic varieties from the start, you can spend less time worrying about what's growing in your yard and more time enjoying it together.
Choosing the right plants is one of the easiest ways to create a landscape that's both beautiful and welcoming for pets. To help homeowners get started, Niko Oplt, District Manager at Moon Valley Nurseries, recommends these reliable, pet-friendly favorites that offer year-round beauty without compromising your landscape goals.
Red Yucca
A Southwest favorite, Red Yucca brings bold color with its tall coral flower spikes while requiring very little water once established. Its architectural form makes it an excellent choice for borders, accents, and drought-tolerant landscapes.
"Instead of planting stuff in your yard that will poke (your pets), toss a Red Yucca in. These are super soft and friendly for your pets." - Niko Oplt
Green Hopseed
Green Hopseed is a versatile evergreen shrub prized for its dense foliage and fast growth. Whether used as a privacy hedge or foundation planting, it provides lush greenery and creates a soft, natural backdrop for any landscape.
Sage varieties
Many ornamental sage varieties offer colorful blooms, fragrant foliage, and attract pollinators throughout the growing season. Available in a range of colors and sizes, sages are an easy way to add long-lasting beauty and texture to pet-friendly landscapes.
A pet-friendly landscape is about more than just plant selection—it's about creating an outdoor space where your pets can comfortably explore, play, and relax. Thoughtful design can make your yard more enjoyable for every member of the family.
With the right balance of shade, open space, and durable plantings, you can create a landscape that's beautiful, functional, and built for years of outdoor memories with your pets.
Not all plants are pet-friendly, and toxicity can vary by species or even between closely related varieties. Before adding anything new to your landscape, take a few minutes to verify that it's a good fit for your home and your pets. A little research upfront can help you create a landscape that's both beautiful and safer for your four-legged family members. If you're unsure about a particular tree or plant, talk with an expert at your local Moon Valley Nurseries!
We offer FREE landscape design consultations where our experts can help you hand-select pet-friendly trees and plants while designing an outdoor space tailored to the needs of both your family and your pets. From creating shady retreats and open play areas to selecting beautiful, pet-friendly varieties, we'll help bring your vision to life. Best of all, our professional team handles the delivery and planting, so you can spend less time working in the yard and more time enjoying it with your four-legged companions.