7 Pet-Friendly Houseplants That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs
Houseplants add a pop of color to your home, and choosing the right plants can even provide quality of life benefits like air purification. However, if you have pets in your home, it is essential that you know which plants are safe and which could be deadly.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that toxic exposure to plants and fungi was responsible for 8.1% of calls to its animal poison control center in 2023. To save you from having to make one of those dreaded phone calls yourself, we spoke with Joe Ferrari, owner of plant and garden store Tend Greenpoint, to learn more about the non-toxic plants he recommends for pet parents.
Here’s everything you need to know so you can add some greenery to your home today, worry-free.
Non-Toxic Houseplants for Cats and Dogs
Money tree
Money trees usually have several stems woven together.
Money trees are believed to bring good luck and fortune to their owners, hence their name. According to the New York Botanical Garden, the often woven plants can grow 3 to 6 feet tall indoors and pose no risk to pets.
Real ferns
Not all ferns are true ferns.
Many ferns are not toxic to pets, including Boston ferns, moss ferns, and staghorn ferns. However, some plants with “fern” in the name are not actually true ferns and can be toxic to cats and dogs, including the asparagus fern, according to the ASPCA, so you should make sure you are purchasing a real fern before exposing your pet to one.
Spider plant
Spider plants have thin, narrow leaves
Spider plants are low maintenance, grow quickly and, in my personal experience, are one of the easiest plants to propagate. It is also one of the best plants for air purification and low light environments.
Bamboo
Real bamboo grows best in soil rather than rocks or pebbles.
Like a real fern, bamboo is not toxic to pets if it is a real bamboo plant. Despite their nicknames, sacred bamboo and lucky bamboo, which can be popular houseplants, are not true bamboo and are toxic to cats and dogs.
Hoya
The flowers of hoya carnosa houseplants are typically white and pink, as shown in this close-up photo.
There are many species of hoya plants, and they are all safe for pets. They are also plants that bloom in multiple bright colors and are often nicknamed wax plants.
african violet
African violets should be watered about once a week.
African violet plants can also produce flowers of several colors – usually purple – and they have beautifully fluffy leaves, making them a lovely addition to any home.
Haworthia
Haworthias belong to the succulent family.
These popular succulents come in many varieties. Haworthia fasciata, commonly known as zebra plant, grows in a striped pattern and requires minimal maintenance. They are a great option for beginner plant owners and people with pets.
While these seven houseplants are great houseplants, the list doesn’t end there. Ferrari said a few other non-toxic plants he likes are the lady palm, which can thrive in bright indirect sun, and the ponytail palm, which prefers direct sunlight.
What makes a houseplant toxic to pets?
Some plants can be toxic to cats, but not to dogs, so it’s important to do your research before purchasing.
“Overall, the composition of the plant material determines whether a plant is considered toxic,” Ferrari said. “Items such as certain salts, proteins or chemicals can all cause irritation in cats, dogs or even humans.”
Ferrari said the negative reactions cats and dogs may experience from toxic plants can occur after ingestion, but also that “some plants contain chemicals in their sap that will cause a reaction upon contact.”
If in doubt, you can check the ASPCA website, which has a comprehensive list of plants indicating whether or not they are toxic to cats, dogs, and even horses.
“If we do not find reference to the toxicity of a plant through [ASPCA]we won’t recommend it to our customers,” Ferrari said. “It’s a great resource for anyone looking for plants they already have.”
If you think your cat or dog has ingested a toxic plant, call the ASPCA Poison Control Center 24/7 at 888-426-4435 or your veterinarian as soon as possible.
What is the easiest to care for and pet-friendly houseplant?
Spider plants are a great option for beginners with pets because they are non-toxic and low maintenance. Plus, they grow tall and you can easily propagate them from “babies” that grow from trailing stems.
Ferrari said his personal choice for pets was the hoya genus.
“There are so many leaf shapes and growth habits,” he said. “I like the long, wispy stems that grow and curl before the leaves, and eventually flowers, grow along them. They don’t require a lot of water in general and just love a bright space without direct sunlight.”
