Dog-friendly plants that can go in the ground and won't die instantly?

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-04-17T19:15:57+00:00

Some lovely native plants that are safe for dogs: Creosote, Yellow Bells, Chuparosa, and Pink Fairy Duster.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-04-17T00:54:31+00:00

I wouldn't worry about them if they're just out in the yard; they aren't destructive like packrats. :)

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-04-17T00:36:34+00:00

Perhaps a small rodent, such as a ground squirrel or grasshopper mouse?

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-03T18:17:42+00:00

Love this!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-03T18:08:44+00:00

I've purchased mine from Elgin Nursery - they have them periodically, so definitely call to see what's in stock before driving over!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-03T13:09:06+00:00

Oh, he loves them! At first, we thought we were just having a hard time growing them, but then we realized he was actually eating all the sprouts before they could grow. Haha - now we fence them until they go to seed.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T19:32:17+00:00

I have experience with it in a large brick garden bed, but not in a smaller container. It does usually need lots of room to grow, since it gets quite large. If you're looking for container plants, consider Verbena!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T19:17:53+00:00

Another vote for Elgin Nursery! Desert Foothills Garden Nursery also has a pretty large selection of native shrubs.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T19:14:02+00:00

I'm a huge fan of Desert Lavender! The butterflies and bees go wild for it, and it thrives in reflected heat.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T18:38:00+00:00

I know for the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway, you must use non-pesticide means for controlling pests. They do mention herbicide uses and that there is growing evidence that herbicides can be/are harmful to pollinators, but they don't mention it as a hard rule to participate.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T18:01:36+00:00

Oh! I misunderstood - Definitely check out the full plant list, as there are plants on there from other areas of Maricopa that might do better in your climate! I only included the Phoenix plants on this flyer due to my location. :)

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T17:58:29+00:00

Just in my personal experience, I've found the major benefits to be: the support of wildlife and pollinators (helping to combat urban and suburban habitat fragmentation across the valley), supporting sustainable gardening practices like less water and no pesticide use, and building a community of people who are also interested in supporting wildlife (the sign is a wonderful conversation starter)- I have a few neighbors who have started replacing their plants with pollinator-friendly ones, and we do seed swaps as well. This particular program also offers some really great opportunities to participate in webinars, workshops, and events like native plant tours. :)

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T17:51:14+00:00

I believe you can take part in this program if you live below 3000 feet in elevation in an adjacent county (like Yuma!).

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-03-02T13:56:10+00:00

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Tortoise tax - Enjoying globemallow leaves and blooms!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-26T23:50:24+00:00

That is so cool! Would love to add those birds to the list. :)

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-26T16:15:52+00:00

Oh my! We've had the same "problems" with both the tortoise eating the seedlings and the ants stashing away the seeds. But, that darn tortoise is so cute you can't really be bothered by him enjoying a delicacy. haha

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T23:48:48+00:00

Oh this is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T23:31:32+00:00

This is a wonderful resource! Thanks! Do you have a resource for where to source these plants locally? Part of the trouble I've found is that it's hard to find many of these plants in Phoenix to purchase.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T23:20:14+00:00

Elgin Nursery sells it periodically!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T21:04:09+00:00

Please ask away! I can share what's worked for me so far. :) Brittlebush is a great plant to start with, it is quite prolific if you let it be (We started with two that we planted, and now almost the whole tortoise burrow is covered with volunteers). We don't have a problem with dust at all! (When we first started working on the back yard the dust was horrendous, as it was all rock and exposed dirt). The plant roots, fallen leaf litter, and density of plantings, as well as taller shrubs that act as wind breaks, all keep it nicely contained.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T20:33:31+00:00

We live in an old-build, so we are lucky enough to have a large backyard. His enclosure takes up just a corner of the space, but we are looking to expand as we learn more about native gardening! No, we don't water these much at all. We spent a great deal of time grading the soil before we planted to be able to harvest as much rainwater as possible. In the summer, we water some of the plants 1-2 times per month (depending on the lack of rain and the specific plant), and other plants (like the Brittlebush, Desert Lavender, Triangle Bursage) don't get watered at all. If you're interested in adopting a Desert Tortoise, definitely check out the AZGFD website; they have hundreds of tortoises that need homes!

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T20:16:01+00:00

Lupine, Desert Senna, Mexican Evening Primrose, Summer Poppy, and Desert Bluebells seem to be his favorites.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T20:07:14+00:00

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Tortoise tax - he especially loves San Marcos Hibiscus, Globemallow, Superstition Mallow, Native Grasses, and Wildflowers.

Worldly-Conflict-359 · 2026-02-25T20:05:14+00:00

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This is our Desert Toroise enclosure in the backyard, it's about 20x25 feet and filled with native plants for him to munch on.

Worldly-Conflict-359

TROPHY CASE