Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
3 ratings

Thursday - May 20, 2010

From: Las Cruces, NM
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: Are globe mallows (Sphaeralcea spp.) harmful to dogs
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

My dogs eat the wild globe mallow plants in my yard. Could that be harmful to them?

ANSWER:

There are nine species of globemallow that are native to New Mexico—Sphaeralcea angustifolia (copper globemallow), Sphaeralcea coccinea (scarlet globemallow), Sphaeralcea fendleri (Fendler's globemallow), Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (gooseberryleaf globemallow), Sphaeralcea hastulata (spear globemallow), Sphaeralcea incana (gray globemallow), Sphaeralcea laxa (caliche globemallow), Sphaeralcea leptophylla (scaly globemallow) and Sphaeralcea parvifolia (smallflower globemallow)—but none of them, nor any other member of the genus Sphaeralcea appears on any of the toxic plant databaes shown below. It isn't very likely that they will hurt your dogs.

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List-Dogs

Poisonous Plants of North Carolina

Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock

University of Pennsylvania Poisonous Plants

Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System

 

More Poisonous Plants Questions

Petals of flowers on cake from London
August 28, 2010 - Hi could you confirm that Gemini, Lisianthus and Lilies are non toxic if positioned onto a fresh cream cake (stem will be paced into a vial but the petals will come into contact with the cream). Thank...
view the full question and answer

Food for a veiled chameleon in Columbus GA
May 20, 2011 - Hi I own a Veiled Chameleon, and have been recently searching for different options as to live plant use for their cage. It has pretty much come down to using hibiscus plants and only hibicus plants. ...
view the full question and answer

Western Poison Oak Sap Transfer
January 26, 2016 - My partner is a park ranger and constantly exposed to poison oak. He gets infected sometimes but mostly seems to tolerate it pretty well. I, on the other hand, keep getting reinfected with it, all ove...
view the full question and answer

Is Thalia dealbata toxic to dogs?
May 16, 2011 - A pond in a park frequented by dogs contains Thalia dealbata and I have seen numerous dogs eating the roots with relish, which we discourage, of course. They seem to really enjoy it though. Aft...
view the full question and answer

Do Delphiniums Transfer Toxins to Strawberries?
October 22, 2015 - Is it safe to eat strawberries grown beside delphiniums?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.