Dogs love to explore new things and you will always see them investigating everything, especially in the yard. While they’re out exploring, they can come into contact with different houseplants and trees. Unfortunately, some of these plants can be dangerous for canines because they are poisonous. Therefore, it’s the responsibility of the owner to keep them safe. Let’s discuss some flowering trees that are safe for dogs.
Flowering Trees Not Poisonous to Dogs
Dog owners should always be mindful of their pet’s safety before planting a tree in their home. This doesn’t mean that you should just kill your love for gardening. Several plants and trees are there that don’t harm canines and can make your garden look pretty. The following list covers some of the best dog-friendly flowering trees.
Pink Dogwood
This tree is called Cornus Floridain scientific nomenclature. Flowering Dogwood belongs to the Cornaceae family and is mostly found in eastern North America and northern Mexico. According to ASPCA, no species of dogwood trees or shrubs (Cornus spp.) have been reported to be toxic to dogs.
This genus of trees is very popular and widely used for embellishing and landscaping. The dazzling pink-colored flowers that blossom on these trees captivate everyone. Hence, millions of seedlings and budded trees are produced every year.
Crepe Myrtle
The scientific name of this tree isLagerstroemia indica and it is a member of the family Lythraceae. This genus of plants consists of 50 evergreen species. Most of these plants and trees are abundant in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and other different parts of Oceania. This is because the primary requirement for its growth is warm weather
Crepe Myrtles are particularly known for their radiant and perpetual flowers. These trees grow in a variety of sizes ranging from over 30 m (100 ft) to under 30 cm (1 ft). This tree is free from harmful toxins that could harm your canine. Therefore, ASPCA places it under the category of dog-safe trees.
Star Magnolia
Star Magnolia is known as Magnolia stellata in Botany. This slow-growing small tree is indigenous to Japan. The actual beauty of this tree is its large, showy white or pink flowers. These flowers are completely abloom in early spring.
This tree grows from 5 to 8 feet in height and spreads to a width of about 15 feet. It’s among the most ancient species of flowering trees that existed 20 million years ago. If you search for Star Magnolia on ASPCA, you will be thrilled to see that it’s listed under non-toxic plants.
American Tulip
This species of tree has many other names like Tulipwood, Tulip tree, Tulip Poplar, Whitewood, Fiddle tree, and Yellow Poplar. It is native to eastern North America and is among the tallest hardwoods (it can grow up to 80–100 ft). The tulip tree derives its name from its large flowers that resemble tulips. It requires full sun locations with rich and moist soil to grow.
Although the name of this tree includes the word ‘Tulip’, it doesn’t belong to the Tulipa genus. Tulipas are highly toxic to dogs while American Tulips are completely safe for them.
English Hawthorn
English Hawthorne is known as Crataegus laevigata in Botanical Etymology. It is a species of small to medium-sized trees that grow only up to 25 feet. According to ASPCA, these trees are safe for dogs and you can feel free to embellish your gardens with them.
These flowering trees have lobed, green leaves and alluring barks like that of apple trees. They are called Hawthorn because of their prickly branches. English Hawthorns are local to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.
Camellia
Camellia is a species of one of the most loved ornamental trees that make your patio look extravagant. Countries like China, Japan, and Korea are considered to be the origin of these trees. There are almost 200 variants that come under this genus. ASPCA declares this species as absolutely safe for dogs because there are no known toxins in their leaves and barks.
Camellia Japonica stands first among them based on the number in which they are grown. These trees, when fully grown, attain a height of around 7 to 12 feet.
Dappled Willow
In Botanical study, these trees are known by the name Salix Integra. Dappled Willows has always been the favorite of gardening enthusiasts. It combines gracefully draped branches and elegant leaves of common willows with a stunning color-changing show. On top of that, these beautiful trees are non-toxic for dogs.
The seasonal variation in colors is a fascinating quality of this species. For example, the leaves are pink in the spring and approach whitish-green in summer. In the fall, they become yellow and drop, uncovering coral-red stems by winter. These quickly growing trees grow 2-3 feet annually until they achieve their maximum height of 8-10 feet.
Ornamental Pear
In the scientific nomenclature, this tree is known as Pyrus calleryana. The word ‘Pyrus’means pear which tells that it is a class of pear trees. It belongs to the Rosaceae family of trees and this genus originated in China and Vietnam. According to ASPCA, the foliage of ornamental pear is not considered toxic for canines.
Ornamental pears are the stoutest and easiest to grow of all garden trees. They can even survive mild droughts or intermittently wet sites. These trees are preferred for their ostentatious blossoms during the spring and their striking leaf color as the climate cools.
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