Photo: Zihao WangCC BY 4.0via iNaturalistresized / cropped
Dog lichen Plant Care
Peltigera canina
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Peltigera canina is known for its distinctive foliose thallus with lobed margins resembling a dog's paw print. It is commonly found in temperate regions growing on soil or rocks, popular among plant enthusiasts for its unique appearance and symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria.
Bright indirect
At a glance
How do you care for Dog lichen?
Dog lichen grows best in bright indirect light.
Where Is the Dog lichen Native To?
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
What Is the Dog lichen?
Dog lichen (Peltigera canina) belongs to the Peltigeraceae family within the Peltigera genus. Dog lichen is native to Europe, North America.
Dog lichen displays a mat-forming, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Dog lichen produces none.
What Light Does the Dog lichen Need?
Dog lichen thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Dog lichen in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Dog lichen?
Well-draining, nutrient-rich soil mix. Good drainage is essential for Dog lichen to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Dog lichen?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
Is the Dog lichen Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Dog lichen, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
Never eat a wild mushroom based on an app identification. Many mushrooms have poisonous lookalikes, and edibility must never be judged from an app.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Dog lichen?
Dog lichen is susceptible to none. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Dog lichen is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Peltigera genus (family Peltigeraceae) — search all Peltigera species in the plant lookup.
Dog lichen thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Peltigera canina, family Peltigeraceae — World Flora Online.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Dog lichen, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Zihao Wang, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Dog lichen Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species