Harmless or poisonous? We'll show you which ten plants are perfectly safe for children and pets, too.
The garden is great for children and pets. Here you can romp around undisturbed, play and spend a lot of time in the fresh air. But a secret danger lurks in this place too - if you don't pay attention for a moment, children will put flowers in their mouths or pets will nibble on the leaves.
If the plants are poisonous, there is no way around the pediatrician or veterinarian. But thorns and sharp leaves also lead to painful cuts and injuries faster than expected. So that you can play outside undisturbed with children and animals, we will tell you which ten plants are absolutely harmless and safe for children and pets.
1. Marigolds
The marigold (Tagetes), also known as the marigold, found its way into German gardens as a colorful summer bloomer about 400 years ago. It is still extremely popular today - especially its radiant, large flowers transform the marigolds into a real eye-catcher. In addition, the beautiful flower is particularly robust and reliably drives away pests such as certain nematode species (roundworms) and ants. However, the marigold is absolutely harmless for children and pets - all varieties are non-toxic. However, only a few varieties are edible, such as the spice marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia), because even if the marigold is absolutely non-toxic, most varieties taste unpleasantly bitter, so that they are often quickly spat out again.
2. Corkscrew Willow
Squiggly branches and twisted twigs - the corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa') is also a real feast for the eyes. Its unique growth habit ensures that the corkscrew willow is also becoming increasingly popular in gardens. However, it is only suitable for large plots of land, because it quickly reaches heights of 8 to 12 meters and forms long roots. However, those blessed with a large garden canplant them without hesitation: Like almost all willow plants, the corkscrew willow is non-toxic and is ideal for gardens with children and animals. Rodents such as rabbits and guinea pigs in particular even benefit from the pasture, because their twisted shoots are ideal for nibbling. You should only be careful with cats - they shouldn't eat large amounts of the leaves.
3. Lavender
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) not only impresses with its beautiful violet flowers, but is mainly cultivated for its aromatic scent. The intense smell not only enchants the nose, but also keeps bugs away and has a calming effect. Children and dogs can also benefit from this property - the smell of lavender can provide relief, especially in the case of nervousness and anxiety. Cats, on the other hand, avoid lavender because of the intense smell, but the plant is not dangerous: lavender is absolutely non-toxic for dogs, cats and humans, even if it is not eaten with pleasure due to its bitter taste. However, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and hares should not get near the plant - the lavender can have a toxic effect on them.
4. Nasturtium
The annual nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is mainly cultivated in Germany for its beautiful flowers. The bright yellow, orange or red flowers of the countless varieties of nasturtium can be experienced from July to October and are a real feast for the eyes. But the nasturtium can do even more: the plant has long been known as a medicinal herb, which is said to strengthen the immune system and fight various infections. The nasturtium is also popular as an edible decoration, because its flowers are not only beautiful, but also taste slightly spicy. The leaves can also be eaten, but have a slightly musty taste. Occasional nibbling on the plant will not harm your child or your pet. You can find an overview of cress varieties and species in our special article.
5. Sunflower
When you think of autumn flowers, the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is probably the first that comes to mind. The plant, which can reach an impressive height of up to 3 meters within a few weeks, is one of the most impressive flowers in autumn with its plate-sized, bright yellow flower heads. The delicious sunflower seeds are also for manyreason enough to give the sunflower a place in the garden. Fortunately, not only the seeds but also the whole plant are edible and completely non-toxic - so pets and children can safely play with the large flowers.
6. Pansies
A universally popular classic in the garden is the pansy (Viola x wittrockiana). Children especially like their colorful flowers, which the pansy has in colors from red to white to violet. Among the countless varieties there are even plants that shine with two colors or patterns. But the pansy is not only a feast for the eyes in the garden, it also makes a great impression as a decoration for cakes or as part of a salad. The beautiful flowers are not only non-toxic, but also have a pleasantly sweet taste. The plant is ideal for children and pets, after all, snacking is expressly allowed.
7. Linden
The lime tree (Tilia) has long been a popular house and courtyard tree, which is mainly found in old farmhouses. Even today, the linden tree is still popular as a tree, but is more suitable for larger plots of land: with an impressive height of up to 40 meters, the tree quickly goes beyond the scope of small gardens. If you still don't want to do without a linden tree, you can now also use smaller cultivated forms such as the small-leaved linden tree 'Rancho', which only grows to about 10 meters in height. However, the lime tree is highly recommended for animals and children. Not only does the tree provide valuable shade in summer, it is also non-toxic. In fact, linden blossoms are even a popular ingredient in teas and infusions that are said to help with sore throats - so there's no harm in snacking on the sweet-smelling blossoms.
8. Dahlia
With almost a thousand varieties, the choice of dahlias (Dahlia) is endless. Different shapes and colors and even multicolored variations offer the right thing for every garden and almost invite you to collect it. In addition, the exotic-looking flowers have an advantage over many other plants: they are absolutely non-toxic and can therefore be planted safely near children and animals. In fact, the dahlia is even edible and, with its spicy-sour taste, fits perfectly into hearty salads or fish dishesa. The plant is particularly nice for children because it is also easy to plant. The care of dahlias is also not particularly complex - so nothing stands in the way of your first flower bed.
9. Marigold
The marigold (Calendula officinalis) is one of the oldest garden plants and is still extremely popular today. No wonder - after all, the marigold with its bright flowers is a real eye-catcher. From June to October, the plant flowers in color variations from creamy yellow to crimson. But the marigold is not only pretty to look at, it is also extremely useful: its petals contain anti-inflammatory substances and are therefore still used today in ointments and creams. The marigold is particularly suitable for children and pets because it is safe to eat - in the past, ground marigold leaves were even used as a substitute for saffron. In addition, the marigold is absolutely robust and doesn't mind if it gets kicked while romping around.
10. Ornamental Apple
An apple tree (Malus domestica) probably knows every child. But have you ever heard of the crabapple? This decorative brother of the apple includes around 35 wild species - but the most beautiful are the multi-flowered apple (Malus floribunda), the tea apple (Malus hupehensis ) and the prune-leaved apple (Malus prunifolia). Depending on the variety, the ornamental apples grow up to 8 meters high and often form broad crowns when they are old. In the garden, ornamental apples are twice as charming: in spring, they inspire with a sea of white, light pink or red blossoms. In summer and autumn, on the other hand, the ornamental apples develop walnut-sized yellow and red fruits that can remain on the tree into winter. But even if the ornamental apple is called ornamental apple, its fruits are not only there to look at: With a slightly tart and sour taste, they are ideal as a snack in between. The ornamental apple is also non-toxic in other respects and can be safely placed near children and pets.
If you're looking for tips on how to teach kids about the joy of gardening, check out our special article on gardening with kids. You can also find products for your garden that are harmless to people, animals and nature in our Plantura shop.