Are Astilbes Poisonous to Dogs?

Your garden can be a thrilling space for your fur baby.

During summer, for instance, your dog may want to spend more time in the garden because there are good shade spots.

However, you need to be careful as some plants are known to be toxic to dogs.

As a dog owner, you know your dog will attempt to chew different things that their teeth can hold—whether it’s a shoe, a toy, and yes, even plants and flowers.

One of the favorite garden plants among many homeowners are Astibe plants, and you might wonder if they are safe for your dog.

Read on to learn more.

What are Astilbes?

Astilbe is a perennial flower that likes to grow in shade gardens.

If you are a homeowner who likes color but lives in a place with inadequate sun, this is your go-to-go plant.

Once it has grown, it fills up your garden with feathery plumes of pink, white, red, or lavender flowers, and it’s a beautiful sight to see.

Their height also makes them stand out in a perennial shade garden, as they can grow up to 5 feet.

But, this also depends on the species you choose, as research shows there are 18 species of these flowers, and some of them can be as short as six inches.

For best results, astilbes should be planted in moist and well-drained soils and light shades.

And while this plant can also thrive in an area with full sun, you’ll need to provide shades in the afternoon.

Avoid giving it full shade throughout the day as its flowering may be affected.

Are Astilbes Poisonous to Dogs?

Astilbe is 100% safe for your dog. This means that your fur baby will not be affected health-wise when he chews and eats this perennial plant.

So, if you’re looking to provide a good shade spot for your dog(s), you cannot go wrong with astilbes.

And what makes it even better is that astilbes seem not to be liked by pests apart from the occasional powdery mildews. 

Your dog can enjoy a well-deserved rest under this plant without disturbance from blood-thirsty pests.

What Else Makes Astilbes Special?

A plant can be 100 safe for your dog, but if it has a delicate stem or shaky roots, it will soon be run over by your 50 pounds pitbull.

Luckily, this is not a problem with astilbes as long as you’ve followed the right planting and maintenance measures.

Plants experts propose that since it’s difficult to get astilbe seeds, you should purchase them as plants ready for planting. 

Dig a well-rounded hole that is two times the roots’ diameter, and then place the plant gently in the hole.

The bare roots should have their crowns immersed about an inch below the soil level.

With time, the crowns may start to sprout out of the ground, so ensure you cover them with soil.

It’s recommendable to use a balanced fertilizer on this plant as it matures. Also, ensure these flowers are not overcrowded to give them enough space to breathe and be healthy.

As they grow, spread mulch on the root zone, and remove any competing weeds.

If you follow the mentioned planting and maintenance measures, the astilbe plant will grow up with firm roots and a strong stem to withstand any weight.

As a result, you can send your fur baby to the garden without the fear that he will destroy your plants.

Parting Thoughts

If your find your dog smelling or munching astilbes, there is no cause for worry as this plant is not poisonous to dogs.

Astilbes belong to a category of perennial plants that are 100% non-toxic to fur babies.

Having said that, you need to be careful with the flowers you plant in your garden as some of them can be pretty harmful to your dog when consumed.