Goats have a reputation for eating everything that they catch sight of, and while it’s true that they will have a go at most things at least once, there are some plants that you shouldn’t let your goats near.
I’ve put together a big list of safe plants for goats and a list of unsafe plants for goats so you’ll know what to keep your goats away from and what your goats can eat freely.
If you find plants in the unsafe plants for goats list on your property, make sure the area is well fenced off so your goats can’t get to the poisonous plants.
If the toxic plants are in the pasture that you want your goats to graze, it’s important to spend some time going through the grazing area , pulling out the plants.
With that said, as long as your goats aren’t absolutely starving, they will usually avoid poisonous plants because those plants don’t taste nice.
Here is the list of goat safe and unsafe plants, bushes, trees, and fruits and vegetables.
Please note that this list is a work in progress and there may be other plants that could harm your goats which aren’t currently listed on this page.
You can grab a PDF download of this list here.
Safe Trees And Bushes For Goats To Eat
All of these are safe for your goats to eat freely.
- APPLE TREE
- ARBORVITAE
- ASH TREE
- BAMBOO
- BAY TREE
- BRAMBLES
- BLACKBERRY BRAMBLES
- CAROB
- COTTONWOOD
- DOGWOOD TREE
- DOUGLAS FIR TREE
- ELM TREE
- HAZELNUT TREE
- JOJOBA
- LUCERNE TREE (TAGASASTE)
- MANZANITA
- MAPLE TREES *NOT RED MAPLES*
- MESQUITE
- MOCK ORANGE
- MORINGA TREE
- MOUNTAIN ASH
- MULBERRY
- PINE TREE
- POPLAR TREE
- PRIVET
- RASPBERRY
- RED TIP PHOTINIA
- ROWAN
- SASSAFRAS
- SPRUCE TREE
- SILVERBERRY
- SUMAC TREE
- SWEETGUM TREE
- TREE OF HEAVEN
- WAX MYRTLE (BAYBERRY)
- WILLOW
- YELLOW LOCUST TREE
Safe Plants For Goats To Eat
Your goats can eat their fill of the following goat safe plants.
- AGAPANTHUS
- BANANA PLANT
- BEAN PLANT
- BEGONIA
- BINDWEED
- CLOVER
- COMFREY
- CORN PLANTS
- DANDELION
- ENGLISH IVY
- FAT HEN
- FERN
- FESCUE
- GRAPE VINE
- GREENBRIAR
- HIBISCUS
- HONEYSUCKLE
- HYSSOP
- IVY
- JAPANESE KNOT WEED
- KUDZU
- LEMONGRASS
- MAGNOLIA LEAVES
- MANGO LEAVES
- MINT
- MONKEY FLOWER
- MORNING GLORY
- MOSS
- MULLEIN
- NETTLES
- PLANTAIN
- PEPPER PLANTS
- POISON IVY
- POISON OAK
- ROSE BUSH
- SALVATION JANE
- STRAWBERRY
- ST JOHNS WORT (POSS SUN SENSITIVITY)
- SUNFLOWERS
- SWEET POTATO VINES
- TOMATO PLANTS (IN MODERATION)
- SQUASH PLANTS
- WILD ROSE
- WANDERING JEW (TRADESCANTIA)
- YARROW
- YUCCA
- VETCH
- VIRGINIA CREEPER
Safe Fruits And Nuts For Goats To Eat
Goats really enjoy eating these fruits and nuts.
- APPLE
- ACORN
- BANANA & PEEL
- BLACKBERRY
- CANTALOUPE & PEEL
- GRAPE
- GRAPEFRUIT & PEEL
- MELON
- ORANGE & PEEL
- PEACH
- PEAR
- PEANUT
- PLUM
- POMEGRANATE
- RAISIN
- RASPBERRIES
- STRAWBERRIES
- SWEET CHESTNUT
- WALNUTS
- WATERMELON
Safe Vegetables For Goats To Eat
These veggies are great mixed in with your goat’s daily ration or given as treats.
- ASPARAGUS
- BEETS
- BEANS (GREEN)
- BROAD BEAN (FAVA) PODS & LEAVES
- BROCCOLI
- CARROTS
- CABBAGE
- CARROT
- CATNIP
- CELERY
- COLLARD GREENS
- CORN
- CUCUMBER
- FAVA BEAN PODS
- FENNEL
- GARLIC
- GINGER ROOT
- LETTUCE
- MINT
- MUSTARD GREENS
- ONION
- PARSNIP
- PEAS AND PODS
- PEPPERS
- POTATO
- PUMPKIN
- SUMMER SQUASH
- SWEET POTATO
- TOMATO
- TURNIP
- WINTER SQUASH
Unsafe Trees And Plants For Goats
Keep goats away from everything on this list.
- AFRICAN RUE
- ANDROMEDA
- AVOCADO LEAVES
- AZALEA
- BOXWOOD
- BURNING BUSH BERRIES (EUONYMUS)
- BUTTERCUP
- CALOTROPIS
- CASSAVA
- CHINABERRY
- CHOKECHERRY
- DATURA (THORN APPLES/JIMSONWEED)
- DOGHOBBLE (FETTERBUSH)
- ELEPHANT EARS (COLOCASIA/ALOCASIA)
- FALSE TANSY
- FLIXWEED
- FUSHA
- HOLLY
- JAPANESE YEW
- LANTANA
- LARKSPUR
- LASIANDRA
- LILAC
- LILY OF THE VALLEY (PIERIS JAPONICA)
- LARKSPUR
- LUPINE
- MILKWEED
- MONKSHOOD
- MOUNTAIN LAUREL
- NIGHTSHADE
- OLEANDER
- POKEWEED
- RED MAPLE
- RHODODENDRON
- RHUBARB
- WILD CHERRY
- YEW
Here’s that link to the downloadable list of plants safe for goats.
I hope you find this list useful on your homestead!
