I planned to plant Virginia creeper against a trellis but read that the berries are poisonous to dogs. What evergreen creeper would be safe for my dog and provide fast-growing cover?
I assume you have space to cover because Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is one beast of a plant.
An alternative is chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) , which is semi-evergreen; in a cold winter, it will drop its leaves. It produces deep purple-brown flowers with a vanilla scent in spring, followed by edible purple fruit. It has a very attractive, five-lobed leaf and will quickly spread.
• This article was amended on 9 March 2015. An earlier version recommended clematis, which is poisonous to dogs.
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