Complete Gardening
Is your garden truly safe for your pets? If you’re a pet owner, the answer to this question could be more important than you think. Your curious furry friends love to explore every inch of your yard, but not all plants are as harmless as they appear.
The last thing any pet lover wants is an unexpected trip to the vet because a playful sniff turned dangerous.
But here’s the good news—you don’t have to sacrifice the beauty and variety of your garden to keep your pets safe. By choosing the right creeping plants, you can create a stunning outdoor space that’s both vibrant and pet-friendly.
Imagine a garden filled with lush greenery, soft textures, and vibrant colors, where your pets can roam freely without a worry.
From shaded corners to sunny patios, there’s a perfect creeping plant for every space—and each one offers peace of mind along with aesthetic appeal. Ready to transform your garden into a pet-safe haven?
Let’s explore the best creeping plants that will keep both your garden and your pets flourishing.
Benefits of Creeping Plants in Outdoor Spaces
Creeping plants can transform your outdoor garden into a vibrant and inviting space. They add texture and layers to the landscape, creating a lush and captivating environment. Because they grow horizontally, they enhance the visual appeal without taking up too much vertical space.
These plants are excellent at preventing soil erosion. Their roots help bind the soil, making them ideal for sloped areas. This natural protection enhances the long-term health of your garden by reducing soil displacement and maintaining nutrient balance.
You’ll also appreciate their role in weed control. By forming a dense mat over the ground, creeping plants can limit sunlight reaching the soil, thus reducing the likelihood of weeds. This minimizes maintenance efforts and keeps your garden looking pristine.
Incorporating creeping plants can also help with climate moderation. They provide shade and insulation, which helps maintain ground temperature and moisture levels. This means healthier plants and a more efficient use of water in your garden.
Aesthetic appeal aside, they are valuable for attracting pollinators. Creeping plants can become a haven for butterflies, bees, and birds, enhancing biodiversity. Your garden becomes not just a feast for the eyes, but a thriving ecosystem.
Finally, many creeping plants are pet-safe, providing peace of mind as your pets explore the garden. Whether you’re aiming for style, function, or sustainability, these versatile plants offer numerous benefits for any outdoor space.
Here’s a list of 23 creeping plants that are safe for your pets, allowing you to have a beautiful, lush garden without the worry.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping thyme is a resilient ground cover with a subtle fragrance that adds charm to any garden. It’s pet-safe and can be walked on without damage, making it perfect for pet play areas. Plus, its tiny pink and purple flowers attract pollinators, making it a win-win for gardeners and the environment.
2. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)
This low-growing, mat-forming plant not only fills the garden with a refreshing minty scent, but it’s also non-toxic to pets. Corsican mint thrives in partial shade and moist soil, spreading out to create a lush green carpet.
3. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
Known for its soft, velvety texture, Irish moss is an excellent choice for shady or sunny spots. It spreads gently without being invasive and stays green year-round, giving your garden a constant lush look. Pets can romp through it without worry.
4. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Bright and cheerful, Creeping Jenny sports golden-green leaves that thrive in damp soils and partial shade. Its rapid growth rate makes it ideal for filling large areas quickly, and it’s harmless to pets, making it a great choice for shared outdoor spaces.
5. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
With delicate blue flowers that bloom from spring to fall, Blue Star Creeper is a charming addition to any garden. It tolerates foot traffic well and is completely safe for pets to explore.
6. Mazus (Mazus reptans)
Mazus is a fast-spreading ground cover with purple or white blooms. It thrives in damp, shaded areas and is a perfect choice for filling in the spaces between stepping stones. Best of all, it’s non-toxic to pets, so it’s safe for them to roam.
7. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Known for its tiny, white flowers and sweet fragrance, Sweet Woodruff grows quickly in shady areas, spreading out to form a dense mat. It’s a wonderful ground cover that won’t harm your pets and adds a delicate beauty to woodland gardens.
8. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga, also called Bugleweed, is a low-growing plant that produces purple-blue flower spikes in the spring. It grows well in sun or partial shade and isn’t toxic to pets, making it an ideal ground cover for areas your pets frequent.
9. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
Vinca Minor is a versatile plant that grows well in both sun and shade. Its glossy leaves and lavender flowers add beauty, and its non-toxic nature makes it a safe option for pet owners. Just ensure to monitor its growth, as it can become invasive in certain climates.
10. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedums, or stonecrops, are a diverse group of succulent ground covers that are hardy and drought-tolerant. With varieties like Sedum spurium that produce bright red or pink flowers, they’re not only safe for pets but also a great choice for water-wise gardens.
11. Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Wild strawberry plants provide beautiful ground cover with the bonus of producing tiny, edible berries. While the fruit may be a treat for both you and your pets, the entire plant is safe for curious cats and dogs.
12. Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens)
This creeping evergreen plant produces bright red berries and white, fragrant flowers. It thrives in shaded areas and is completely non-toxic, providing a safe space for pets to wander.
13. Dichondra (Dichondra repens)
Dichondra is an attractive, creeping ground cover with kidney-shaped leaves. It’s safe for pets and does well in sun or partial shade, creating a dense carpet that’s easy on the eyes and gentle underfoot.
14. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Although not a true grass, Mondo Grass has long, slender leaves that resemble grass, making it an excellent ground cover for borders or garden beds. It’s safe for pets and tolerates foot traffic well.
15. Clover (Trifolium repens)
Clover is a fantastic, eco-friendly lawn substitute that stays green year-round and provides nitrogen to the soil. It’s safe for pets and provides a soft cushion for them to lie on.
16. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Known for its calming properties, Roman Chamomile is a hardy, low-growing plant with white daisy-like flowers. It’s pet-safe and adds a fragrant touch to your garden.
17. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s Ear is a fuzzy, silver-leaved plant that makes a great ground cover in dry, sunny areas. Pets love the soft texture, and the plant is completely non-toxic, making it a safe and decorative option for your garden.
18. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
Japanese Spurge is a fast-growing evergreen that thrives in shady spots, making it an ideal choice for difficult areas under trees or along borders. Its pet-safe nature and hardy growth make it an excellent ground cover.
19. Ferns (Various species)
Ferns, like the maidenhair fern, are a great way to add texture to shady areas. Most ferns are non-toxic to pets, offering lush greenery without the worry.
20. Speedwell (Veronica spp.)
Speedwell is a spreading perennial with tiny blue or white flowers. It’s an excellent ground cover that’s safe for pets and can handle a bit of foot traffic.
21. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
This silver-leafed ground cover produces a blanket of white flowers in early summer. It’s non-toxic to pets and grows well in sunny, dry areas.
22. Silver Dollar Plant (Lunaria annua)
This plant is known for its shiny, silver seed pods. While primarily grown for its ornamental qualities, it’s also safe for pets and adds a whimsical touch to your garden.
23. Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Although pennyroyal is a member of the mint family, it’s important to note that it’s best kept as a ground cover in areas where pets won’t nibble on it excessively. While safe in general, large amounts of the plant can cause health issues, so it’s best planted in less accessible areas.
Your garden should be a sanctuary not just for you but for your pets as well. By choosing pet-safe creeping plants, you ensure that your outdoor space is a beautiful, thriving environment where your pets can roam freely without the risk of ingesting harmful substances.
Whether you’re filling in gaps, controlling erosion, or simply looking to add beauty to your yard, these 23 creeping plants offer the perfect combination of safety and aesthetics. With these plants, you’ll have peace of mind, knowing your garden is both lush and safe for every member of the family.