There are plenty of indoor plants that are easy to care for and maintain. But if you have a pet around the house then their safety needs to be put into consideration. Hence before you start buying all kinds of houseplants you can find, you need to take make sure your garden is pet friendly.
While it’s more imperative to keep houseplants out of reach from your pets, it is also important to choose non-toxic houseplants.
Houseplants are relatively popular not just for their visual beauty but also for their ability to improve concentration and productivity. However it can be really easy for your pets to feed on them and while this might not be harmful to humans, the same can’t be said for animals.
If you are caring for indoor plants for the first time and your pets are determined to feed on them then it’s best to try more non-toxic houseplants.
40 Pet Safe Houseplants For Your Home
Cats and dogs are found to chew on houseplants during a playing session or consider it a toy. While there are guides on houseplants that are poisonous to your pet, there are also ones that are beneficial and safe for you and your pets.
Experts recommend spraying insecticides on your houseplants to keep pets away but can be quite irritating. It can be quite difficult to keep houseplants away from pets who are determined to chew on them. So, we have compiled a list of safe houseplants for you.
1. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston fern is also known as sword fern and it’s a popular houseplant that is considered very safe for cats and dogs. This houseplant is a favorite for many indoor gardeners and it’s also easy to care for. Although the shaggy frond might be tempting for dogs and cats to chew on, it’s non-toxic. Boston fern is absolutely stunning and can easily transform a room.
2. African Violet (Saintpaulia)
African violet is a compact low growing plant that is popular for lots of good reasons. This plant is pet friendly and quite attractive as well. It doesn’t need bright light to thrive and it can brighten up any room with its pink and purple hue. It is important to keep the soil moderately moist and ensure to use a pot with drainage holes to avoid overwatering it.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The spider plant is listed to be one of the safest houseplants for pets. You can easily have prayer plants placed on your bookshelves or end tables since they don’t require much space. Although this is considered safe for pets, it is mildly hallucinogenic and likely to attract cats.
Cats are known to find it really attractive and might chew on it which causes vomiting diarrhea and upset stomach. Hence we recommend you stay away from this if you have cats.
4. Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)
These plants are not just pretty houseplants worth having in your home but they are also safe for all kinds of pets. To keep their beautiful color though, they need indirect sunlight and regular water. These gorgeous bloomers also make a great mother’s day or valentines day gift.
5. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
The areca palm is a great houseplant to have in your home it is considered great for purifying the air and even safer and non-toxic for pets. Cats tend to find the palm fronds tempting to play with, but do worry, it isn’t toxic to cats or dogs. If they are well cared for, they can grow into indoor trees.
6. Polka Pot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
To add some color to a miniature indoor garden, you need the polka dot plant. These houseplants are fairly easy to care for and you can get them in colors like pink, green, red, and white. This plant only requires moist sun and indirect sunlight to bloom.
This is considered non-toxic to dogs and cats but sensitive pets are likely to experience mild digestive upset if a large amount of it is ingested.
7. Mosiac Plant (Fittonia albivenis)
The mosaic plant is also known as the nerve plant and it’s one of the most common houseplants. This beautiful rainforest native plant is safe for cats and dogs. It requires moderate watering and low light.
8. Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)
The friendship plant is another really safe houseplant for your pets it got the name due to the rapid rooting of cuttings you can easily use this as a gift to friends and family. It has a fragile stem but thrives in high humidity. It is often grown as a terrarium specimen, making it unlikely for your dogs and cats to chew on.
9. Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Orchid is the type of houseplant you want for a colorful and vibrant room. It is considered safe for plants and it can tolerate low bright and medium light, it generally needs to be watered once a week. The moth orchid is also a plant that blooms all year long.
10. Roses
Roses are extremely popular plants and there are over 100 of these perennial plants but not all might be considered safe for your cats and dogs. Fallen petals from roses are harmless to our pets. However, you should avoid choosing long-stemmed roses as the thorn can cause scratches if your cats pounce on them.
You should also avoid getting a rose bush as well.
11. Radiator Plant
The radiator plant is a plant species that belongs to the genus peperomia family and it’s a compact plant that is quite easy to maintain as well. This plant comes in amazing colors such as grey, red, green, and purple and can grow up to 12 inches tall. All radiator plant species are safe for pets.
12. Purple Waffle Plant (Hemigraphis alternata)
The purple waffle is a plant that blooms all year long and with consistent watering and indirect sunlight, it can maintain its purple tint all season. This plant is generally safe for pets and if ingested, it won’t harm dogs or cats.
13. Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
This houseplant is relatively easy to care for and it is a pet-safe plant as well. It needs only a humid environment and a bright window to thrive.
14. Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)
Here is another captivating pet-friendly houseplant to have in your home. Venus flytrap plants might look menacing but they are only poisonous to bugs. It has no toxins in them and the look of the trap plants tend to frighten pets which keeps them away.
With proper care and maintenance, it can grow up to 8 traps that help keep your indoor garden safe from bugs, flies, and insects.
15. American Rubber Plant (Hevea brasiliensis)
The American rubber plant is a low-maintenance plant that can be found in many homes as it literally removes toxins from the hair. It is safe for your cats and dogs.
16. Lace Flower Vine (Alsobia dianthiflora)
Another safe houseplant for your furry friends is lace flower vine. This houseplant is a plant native to Central And South America and it grows best in hanging baskets. It thrives best in humid conditions.
17. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
Christmas cacti is another non-toxic houseplant to choose for your pets. This houseplant stays relatively short but can spread up to two feet. It thrives with indirect sunlight and moist soil. Although this is safer than other festive plants, ensure your dogs and cats do not chew on it.
18. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Ponytail palms are really great houseplants to have around. They are small and lightweight which means you can easily have them transferred anywhere. It will sure look great on your work desk or near a window and all it requires is a little sand, soil, a pot with a drainage hole, and full sun.
19. Common Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Common Zinnia is another safe houseplant for pets and this particular type of zinnia is fairly easy to care for. It is safe for dogs and cats and even more interesting is how they are amazing prolific bloomers, especially during the summer months.
20. Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleiroli)
Soleirolia Soleirolii is a houseplant that goes by lots of names such as mind your business, Paddy’s Wig and yes Baby Tears. It is a plant that is not just safe for pets but children as well. It produces lots of white flowers and can be planted in small hanging baskets.
This plant is also a great indoor companion plant, its leaves cover the soil and help discourage pets that like digging in your houseplants.
21. Blue Echeveria (Echeveria Glauca)
There are different species of plants under the Eucheveria family and they are pet friendly. The Blue Echeveria is also called hen and chicks, it is native to the semi-desert areas of Mexico and Central America. This plant does not tolerate too much water hence go with the soak and dry schedule to water it.
22. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus Verticillatus)
Swedish ivy is a common houseplant that is safe for pets and it originally comes from Southern Africa. This plant is non-toxic to pets and it’s very easy to care for. It is a really beautiful green cascading plant that is quite lovely and beautifies the home.
23. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)
Cast-iron plants are low-maintenance plants and they survive in various temperatures. This plant can basically withstand anything but make sure you have plenty of space for this plant as they can grow up to 3 feet.
24. Barberton Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)
This gorgeous plant only needs direct sunlight, moist soil, and average temperatures. This plant poses no threat to pets. This plant can flower at any time of the year and it is listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA.
25. Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
Basil is a plant definitely worth having in your home. This plant is extremely safe for your pets and remembers you eat them. Although not all herbs are safe for your pets basil is an ideal safe houseplant for cats. It is a low-maintenance plant as well.
26. Thimbu Cactus
This is a good option for you if you want to keep your pets and kids away from your plants. This plant goes really fast and the spines don’t stick out and prick so they won’t cause much trouble.
This plant is also a great indoor companion plant, its leaves cover the soil and help discourage pets that like digging in your houseplants.
27. Royal Velvet Plant (Gynura Aurantiaca)
The royal velvet plant comes in a shade of purple and they are quite attractive not only is the vibrant color of this plant mesmerizing, but the leaves are also velvety as well. These plants are easy to care and they don’t need a regular water supply to thrive. This houseplant is listed as non-toxic to pets.
28. Dwarf Musa Banana (Dwarf Cavendish)
While most types of bananas might be too big for a home, you can go with the dwarf Musa banana plant. This plant needs a warm and sunny environment and water often. Give it plenty of room to grow and it will only reach 6 feet.
29. Guzmania Lingulata)
The scarlet star plant is a popular type of houseplant. Although this houseplant can take up to four years to get to its full blooming stage, it’s considered worth the wait. It can be grown indoors or outdoor attached to another houseplant or on regular soil.
30. Purple Waffle Plant (Hermigraphis Alternata)
Here is another pet-friendly houseplant for you. The purple waffle plant is a plant that grows all seasons and serves as a great purifier as well. It needs sustained indirect sunlight to thrive.
31. Sage (Salvia Officinalis)
If you are on the lookout for safe indoor herbs then sage can be a great plant. It is recognized as non-toxic to dogs even if they feed on it in moderation. It requires lots of sunlight to grow.
32. Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
This is a hanging succulent that is safe for your pets as it gets to stay out of reach and all you need is a great container. It grows best in full sunlight and ensures not o overwater during the winter season.
33. Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
The zebra plant is also known as the Zebra Haworthia and it has shapes and sizes that are similar to aloe vera but it’s a safer houseplant for pets.
34. Watermelon Plant (Pilea Cadieri)
The watermelon plant is another common houseplant that is also pet safe. It is also called the aluminum plant and it is a North African plant that is common in many households for its beautiful and pleasing look. They are great indoor plants and do not need bright sunlight to thrive.
35. Dwarf Palm (Charmaedorea Elegans)
Dwarf palm is a popular plant that is also called parlor palm, good luck palm, or majesty palm of bamboo. This houseplant is highly loved as it is a low-maintenance plant that is also an excellent plant to go to as a beginner plant collector. Dwarf palm is safe for cats and dogs.
Ensure you don’t overwater it and remove excess water after you water it.
36. Peperomia
Peperomia species can be found on the list of safe house plants for your pets. The entire peperomia family is considered non-toxic to your pets and there are so many beautiful varieties you can choose from. They look great in hanging baskets and they will be fine on days you forget to water them.
37. Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
The kentia palm is quite similar to the areca palm and it is another common houseplant that is non-toxic to pets. This plant can tolerate low light and it helps purify the air which makes it an ideal plant for the home and office. It is known for its ability to withstand conditions that many houseplants won’t tolerate and it can survive in any indoor setting.
38. Wax Plant (Hoya Carnosa)
The Wax plant is also known as the porcelain flower and it is a great houseplant that helps purify the air. There are si no records of the wax plant being toxic to pets. It produces clusters of star-shaped flowers and they come in different shades of pink. They are also semi-succulent plants which makes them easy to care for and maintain.
39. Air Plants (Tillandsia)
Tillandsia is also known as air plants and they are non-toxic to dogs and cats. If your cats like to chew on your air plants, not to worry, they are completely safe as long as you remember to trim any broken tips or leaves and make sure they don’t consume in excess.
40. Easter Orchid (Cattleya mossiae)
Easter orchids are also known as moth orchids and it’s a pinkish purple flowering plant that is native to Northern Venezuela. This is one of the most beautiful houseplants in the cattleya species. Fertilizer is not needed for this plant to bloom and they typically flower in springtime.
Final Thoughts
Knowing plants that are safe for your furry friends is just as important as knowing plants that are safe for you. Many of the houseplants listed above are not just beautiful but very safe for your pets as well. However, it’s also important to keep them away from your pets if you can.
Ensure to also watch out for signs of poisoning in your pets and if any of the symptoms last more than 24 hours, we suggest taking him/her to a veterinarian.
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