Landscaping - Need Horse-Safe Plant Ideas

[Tiffani_B]

I’m looking for some ideas for plants I can add to my landscaping that are safe for horses.

I’m in Zone 5b (central IL, south of Chicago). Horses do not have access to the areas I’m planting, but plants spread and horses get into areas we don’t want them to, so I want plants that won’t hurt them.

Around the indoor arena - mostly wooded so very shady. There is virtually no human or animal access without serious effort but the woods do border one of my pastures.

• Spreading ground cover to help stop soil erosion on the slopes. This is the one I'm most concerned about getting into the pastures.
• Other plants (some color would be nice, flowers are optional) to fill in some open areas in the woods and along the building
• Prefer nothing too tall (under 3')
• Thorny plants would be ok along the back fence line to keep nosy neighbors out

And then around the barn… this is pretty much all sunny with shade only when the sun is on the other side of the building.

• Anything to help with bugs - mosquitoes and flies in particular
• Pretty! Flowers would be nice, maybe some low shrubs but nothing that has thorns since people and dogs are in this area.

And finally a question. Are pine trees ok to have in pastures?

Thanks for any advice and ideas!

[susanne]

As a rabid gardener, the best list I’ve found is the ASPCA plant database.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/horse-plant-list. Most of the other lists are so basic as to be worthless. Check with your county extension agent, and some nurseries are knowledgeable.

People will be quick to recommend plants, but be sure to research them by latin name AND by common/popular name. In addition to possible toxicity, be certain that the plant is appropriate to your region and climate.

[stb]

I did read recently that yews can be deadly to horses, so stay away from those. I had a few in my yard that I took out, just in case my horse ever gets out and goes wandering around the yard.

[SmartAlex]

For spreading ground cover in a shady area I’d do Myrtle (Vinca Minor). Excellent ground cover but spreads by stems, not seeds, so easy to contain (I just edge where I want to stop it and chop off it’s fingers). Not on the poison list.

For shade Huechera (coral bells) and Astilbe.

No Yew ever anywhere close to horses. Pines are fine, but you may end up with drippy sap on your horses.

[clanter]

never ever found anything that will coexist …either plants kill the horses or the horses kill the plant

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=clanter;8576245]
never ever found anything that will coexist …either plants kill the horses or the horses kill the plant[/QUOTE]

Fortunately the areas I’m planting, the horses don’t have access to. So hopefully the plants will thrive LOL!

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8575724]
For spreading ground cover in a shady area I’d do Myrtle (Vinca Minor). Excellent ground cover but spreads by stems, not seeds, so easy to contain (I just edge where I want to stop it and chop off it’s fingers). Not on the poison list.

For shade Huechera (coral bells) and Astilbe.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I’ll check out the Myrtle and Astilbe. Huechera is on my list - lots of nice varieties that have pretty flowers and leaves.

I’ve been using the ASPCA list but it’s so hard to know that I’m looking at the same plants since there are so many different names they go by. In fact, I’ve found 3 that are called “coral bells” and they aren’t anything alike. AUGH!

[Alagirl]

http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/

creeping junipers are decent as ground cover, but I do like Vinca as well (for shade, go with green leaves, areas with more light can call for a variety with variegated leaves)

Daffodils for early spring color, maybe some tulips. I know daffodils are poisonous, but I have yet to see anything eat them.

But definitely look up by botanical names: Common names often refer to vastly different plants!

If the area is on the moist side, you could also plant some native ferns.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=Tiffani B;8576326]
I’ve been using the ASPCA list but it’s so hard to know that I’m looking at the same plants since there are so many different names they go by. In fact, I’ve found 3 that are called “coral bells” and they aren’t anything alike. AUGH![/QUOTE]

I can sympathize. This year we’re buying large quantities of ground cover wholesale through a friend’s greenhouse and she gave me the catalog which was all scientific names and no pictures. Luckily there was a common name list in the back. I think I know what I ordered :lol:

[D_BaldStockings]

[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8576389]
I can sympathize. This year we’re buying large quantities of ground cover wholesale through a friend’s greenhouse and she gave me the catalog which was all scientific names and no pictures. Luckily there was a common name list in the back. I think I know what I ordered :lol:[/QUOTE]

To start with

Willows, daylily, viburnums, English ivy, dogwoods, birches,
honey locust, and black locust…

pansies, mustard, ornamental kale

junipers will deter walking humans if knee high or better.

Pines Spruces and firs are fine.

Yew, Oleander are deadly.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=D_BaldStockings;8576487]
To start with

Willows, daylily, viburnums, English ivy, dogwoods, birches,
honey locust, and black locust…

pansies, mustard, ornamental kale

junipers will deter walking humans if knee high or better.

Pines Spruces and firs are fine.

Yew, Oleander are deadly.[/QUOTE]

English Ivy and black Locust are poisonous.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I did a back section of my old yard that was very wooded and shady and a hill with iris, hostas and whatever random thing caught my eye (astilbe, etc. for pops of color). Coral bells can really fill in too, but I could never get them to grow in dry, total shade, ymmv. I was trying to do a variegated leaf version and perhaps the original plant is easier.

[beowulf]

this might help:
https://circlebbarn.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/circle-b-farm-shrubbery-and-the-poisonous-plant-roster/

[D_BaldStockings]

[QUOTE=Alagirl;8576553]
English Ivy and black Locust are poisonous. :)[/QUOTE]

Thanks,
I hope no one took that part of my list!

[D_BaldStockings]

This should be a good list to avoid
http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/php/plants.php?action=display&amp%3Bispecies=horses

[Chestnut_Run]

For the shady side, I’d recommend hostas, ferns, and astilbe. For the sunny side, you can’t go wrong with daylilies, and iris IMO.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;8577557]
I did a back section of my old yard that was very wooded and shady and a hill with iris, hostas and whatever random thing caught my eye (astilbe, etc. for pops of color). Coral bells can really fill in too, but I could never get them to grow in dry, total shade, ymmv. I was trying to do a variegated leaf version and perhaps the original plant is easier.[/QUOTE]

Variegated plants need more sunlight than their all green counterparts, as the white areas do not do photosynthesis.
Or they revert to all green.

[susanne]

Cornell’s list is one that is so basic as to be useless.

OP’s issue with coral bells is why I say to get both common and latin names. Most people use the common names, which often refer to several different plants (i.e., hemlock could refer to poison hemlock, an herbaceous plant that is deadly, or it could refer to the hemlock tree, a conifer and popular softwood lumber tree, that is harmless. With the latin names, you will know for certain. Labels in nurseries and garden centers generally list both.

The ASPCA list is most useful when you already know the plant – then check the ASPCA list.

I pay most attention to what NOT to plant.

Yew, oleander, castor bean, red maple (acer rubrum) are plants I’d pay neighbors to get rid of. I won’t have them near my horses. Japanese maples, at least the red ones, are questionable, but I just make sure the horses can’t get to them and I pluck the leaves before the fall. Rhododendrons and other shiny leaved evergreens are toxic, but they are ubiquitous here in the northwest and I’ve never seen a horse go near one.

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=Chestnut Run;8578380]
For the shady side, I’d recommend hostas, ferns, and astilbe. For the sunny side, you can’t go wrong with daylilies, and iris IMO.[/QUOTE]

Hostas and some ferns are toxic to horses. So are daffodils, tulips, hyacinths… some of my most favorite of course LOL.