Landscaping with Native Plants on Horse Farms

Native Plants & Horses

The plants listed below were identified from the Pennsylvania DCNR publication Landscaping with Native Plants and are not known to be toxic to horses. However, this only means that there are no recorded cases of equine toxicity from these plants. To err on the side of caution, some plants were excluded from this list because they contain known toxic compounds, despite not being reported as toxic to horses. Additionally, be aware that any time a horse consumes a large quantity of a new plant, it has the potential to cause digestive upset (such as diarrhea or colic), so it is generally best practice to keep horses away from your garden.

When selecting plants, pay close attention to the scientific name, as the common name may be used for more than one species. For example, horse-safe Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is not related to water hemlock (Cicuta maculata), which is extremely toxic. For a list of common plants that are toxic to horses, read Plants Toxic to Horses.

Refer to Landscaping with Native Plants for more details on each plant, including bloom color and period, light and moisture preference, size, and more notes to help you identify and select native plants.

Conclusion

Well-planned gardens can elevate a property's aesthetic, but it is important to choose plants carefully. Not only should they be adapted to the site conditions, but they should also be non-toxic to horses in case a horse gets loose from its field and grazes the plants. Using native plants reduces the maintenance required and helps the local ecosystem and pollinators. Overall, native plants will benefit everyone on the farm.