Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Sunday - May 16, 2010
From: Louisville, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Trees
Title: Evergreen plants safe for horses in Louisville, Kentucky
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a horse farm in Louisville, Ky. I want to plant evergreen plants along the walls in front of the horse barns. What types of plants are not toxic to horses can I use? Thank you so much for all your help with this. I bought a lot of yews(taxus x media) that after looking at your website I may have to take out and plant what you recommend. Thank you, Mr. Smarty PlantsANSWER:
You will probably want to remove the yew trees from the area since at least one Taxus species appears on each of the toxic databases listed below:
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant Lists—Horses
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock
University of Pennsylvania Poisonous Plants
Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System
Here are some evergreen trees and shrubs that should be safe for your horses—none of them appears in any of the above toxic plant databases. Some are taller than the yew that you picked but they might work for you anyway.
Thuja occidentalis (eastern arborvitae)
Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine)
Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock) This species appears on the Non-Toxic portion of the ASPCA list.
Evergreen ferns:
Dryopteris carthusiana (spinulose woodfern)
Dryopteris marginalis (marginal woodfern)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)
Short Shrubs and Sub-shrubs:
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)
Leiophyllum buxifolium (sandmyrtle)
Mahonia aquifolium (hollyleaved barberry) This plant is on the Non-Toxic list of the ASPCA.
Paxistima canbyi (Canby's mountain-lover)
If you are interested in seeing shrubs or trees that are not evergreen, go to the Kentucky Recommended page and NARROW YOUR SEARCH by choosing 'Shrub' or 'Tree" from the GENERAL APPEARANCE box.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Trees Questions
Deadheading seedless desert willows for continued bloom in Phoenix AZ
May 31, 2010 - We planted two seedless desert willow trees this spring. Both have bloomed nicely but we now have many stems with the spent flowers still on the tree. Your database for this plant says to "Remove spe...
view the full question and answer
Small tree for container near pool in Houston
June 24, 2010 - Can you recommend a small tree that I can grow in a pot for shade? Looking for minimal mess because it will be near the pool. How big should the pot be?
view the full question and answer
Laurel oak tree not leafing out in Pasadena TX
April 13, 2010 - Hurricane Ike blew down our red bud in the backyard. Had a large 25' laurel oak planted early March 2010. When it was put in the ground, the leaves were on it, but they were all brown and dried. T...
view the full question and answer
Willow woes in Philadelphia, NY
August 22, 2010 - I have a 2 yr old willow; it is August and it looks like the tree has gone dormant, is this normal?
view the full question and answer
Use of fresh clippings from tree trimmers for mulch in Austin
May 02, 2010 - Hi, The tree trimmers are in my neighborhood (east central Austin) to clear the power lines and said I can have a load of free mulch. I am wondering if there is any harm in using the fresh mulch from...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
