Is Sweet Alyssum safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Safe |
| Dogs | Safe |
Severity: Mild
Sweet alyssum is a fixture of California border plantings, hanging baskets, and vegetable-garden edges - UC Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program in San Luis Obispo County describes it as a low, spreading annual only 3 to 9 inches tall but 10 to 48 inches wide, with honey-scented flowers that bloom from spring through the first frost. Master Gardeners specifically recommend it as an 'insectary plant': its small clustered flowers draw syrphid flies, ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, all natural predators of common garden pests, which is why it turns up tucked along the edge of vegetable beds as often as it does spilling out of a rock garden or planter box.
ASPCA's listing, published under the genus name 'Alyssum spp.' (family Brassicaceae - the older classification sweet alyssum was originally placed under before botanists moved it to genus Lobularia, which is why garden centers still sell it simply as 'Alyssum'), states it is non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. For a ground cover planted this widely along walkways and garden beds where pets roam, that's a genuinely reassuring, sourced answer.
Facts and examples
- UC Cooperative Extension's SLO Master Gardener program names sweet alyssum's scientific name as Lobularia maritima, describes it as a low spreading annual 3-9 inches tall and 10-48 inches wide blooming spring through frost, and recommends it as an insectary plant that draws syrphid flies, ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. (source, verified 2026-07-30)
- ASPCA lists 'Alyssum spp.' (family Brassicaceae) as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. (source, verified 2026-07-30)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-07-30 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-07-30