Written by Susan – Plant Lover, Adelaide
If you share your garden with furry friends, you know how curious they can be — sniffing, digging, or nibbling their way through your plants. The good news? You don't need to give up your dream garden to keep your pets safe.
At Adelaide Plant Co, we stock plenty of beautiful, hardy plants that are non-toxic to cats and dogs and thrive in South Australian conditions. Here are my top picks for a safe, stylish, and pet-friendly outdoor space.
🌿 Why Choose Pet-Friendly Plants?
Many common garden favourites — like lilies, agapanthus, and oleanders — can cause tummy upsets or worse if chewed. Choosing non-toxic options means peace of mind while still creating a lush, vibrant garden your pets can enjoy exploring.
🌱 Adelaide's Best Pet-Safe Outdoor Plants
🌸 Camellias
Elegant, evergreen shrubs with glossy leaves and stunning winter flowers.
-
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
-
Great for shaded areas or as feature shrubs
-
Adds soft colour when little else is flowering
💚 Perfect for Adelaide Hills and shaded metro gardens.
🌿 Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary)
A native superstar that's both hardy and harmless.
-
Dense foliage for hedging or borders
-
Drought-tolerant and salt-resistant
-
Non-toxic and loved by native bees
🐾 Ideal for low hedges or coastal gardens — even safe if your dog likes to nap beside it!
🌼 Correa (Native Fuchsia)
A bird-attracting beauty that's gentle on paws and tummies.
-
Tubular flowers in pink, red, or green tones
-
Frost and drought tolerant
-
Non-toxic to pets
🌸 A lovely native option for Hills or Plains gardens alike.
🌾 Lomandra longifolia (Mat Rush)
One of the toughest landscape plants — and pet-safe too!
-
Withstands trampling and digging
-
Great for erosion control or borders
-
Evergreen, tidy, and hardy year-round
🐶 Perfect for active dogs who love to race around the yard.
🌺 Salvia microphylla (Baby Sage)
A colourful, long-flowering shrub that's non-toxic and hardy.
-
Blooms for months in warm weather
-
Loved by bees and butterflies
-
Easy-care and pet-safe
🌞 Best for full-sun gardens across Adelaide's suburbs.
🌼 Scaevola aemula (Fan Flower)
A spreading native groundcover that adds lushness and colour.
-
Non-toxic to pets
-
Perfect for sunny beds or hanging pots
-
Handles heat and dry spells
💚 Great for keeping soil cool while staying safe for curious cats.
🌿 Lilly Pilly (Syzygium Australe 'Backyard Bliss')
Adelaide's most popular hedge is also pet-safe — a rare win.
-
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
-
Fast-growing dense privacy hedge
-
Psyllid-resistant and low maintenance
🐾 Great for families with both pets and a need for privacy.
🌸 Rhaphiolepis Indica 'Oriental Pearl'
A flowering hedge that's as safe as it is beautiful.
-
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
-
Glossy leaves with soft pink-white flowers
-
Dense and low-maintenance
🌼 Perfect for front gardens where pets and passers-by mix.
🐕 Pet Garden Safety Tips
-
Use raised garden beds or sturdy edging for protection.
-
Place taller shrubs around borders to deter digging.
-
Avoid chemical sprays or snail pellets — opt for pet-safe alternatives.
-
Create a shady resting spot for your pet to relax away from plants.
💚 Final Thoughts from Susan
"Our pets are part of the family — and they deserve a garden that's safe, beautiful, and full of life. With the right plants, you can enjoy peace of mind and a lush outdoor space that everyone (paws included) can enjoy."
