Creeper Plants That Are Safe for Dogs

Creeper Plants on the Move

• Despite the eerie name, creepers are versatile plants, growing out to fill spaces. They're natural choices for areas that need a little extra foliage, such as under a tree, between pavers in a pathway or rounding out empty spots in a rock garden. These ground covers send out runners, producing small roots where a stem or leaf touches the soil, or they form roots along their stems. Many creepers are easy to propagate and keep under control, and hold up well against kids and dogs. Creepers are often planted in accessible or well-traveled areas, so if your pooch has a tendency to snack on greenery, you'll want to take care to plant Fido-friendly plants.

Shade Creepers

• If your pup likes to lounge under your trees or in other shady areas of your yard, you'll both rest easy if you've chosen creeping Jenny as a cover. It's a vigorous grower, forming a low mat of bright green and rewarding you with bright yellow flowers into the summer. Veronica can work in full or partial shade, showing small, white flowers in the late spring and yellow-golden leaves the rest of the year. Mock strawberry looks similar to regular strawberries, and like the edible fruit, won't hurt your dog if he takes a nibble. Small yellow flowers are sprinkled throughout the evergreen foliage, which can handle some foot traffic. This creeper can do double duty in sun and shade.

Sunny Creepers

• For sunny spots, you can try creeping raspberry, an evergreen cover that can tolerate wet or dry conditions. The crinkled leaves will sport a pretty dark green color in the spring and summer, turning to a burgundy during fall and winter months. Cooper's hardy ice has succulent foliage that becomes cloaked in yellow or purplish-pink flowers in late spring. It's happiest in full sun and soil that drains well. If your soil isn't great, or your weather's hot and dry, your pup and stonecrop can happily coexist. This plant makes a low mat of tiny green leaves that transform from spring to summer. In the spring, the stem tips will take on a pretty yellow color, giving way to tiny golden flowers in the summer. Kenilworth ivy shows tiny light blue flowers and is a solid choice to fill in between pavers.

Sedum and Ivy

• Sedum is a popular creeper because it's versatile and offers a number of different looks for the garden. Generally, sedum is a safe choice for the garden, but make sure the specific kind you choose won't harm your pooch if he takes a mouthful. Ivy, which is more of a climber than a creeper, is usually not a dog-friendly choice for the yard. Though there are some varieties that won't harm your pup, many, such as English ivy, can have potentially dangerous consequences. It's best to be extra cautious when making your gardening choices. The ASPCA website can provide guidance about which plants are safe and which are best left in the gardening center.