Are you looking for safe pet friendly houseplants? If so, you have come to the right spot. Houseplants have the ability to bring a room to life while purifying the air, but a drawback is that many plants are toxic to animals and children. I have compiled a list of houseplants that are toxic to animals followed by a list of pet friendly plants. Nontoxic plants are a wonderful way to add texture and a pop of color to your space while keeping everyone safe.
I love houseplants, but I have yet to determine whether or not I really have a green thumb. With 5 cats and a property that has children; I want to make sure that my houseplants are not toxic. Here are lists of a few popular plants that are toxic followed by plants that are safe for animals.
Houseplants that are toxic to cats and dogs:
- Aloe Plant (Aloe vera) Aloe vera is a useful plant to have in your household, but you may want to think twice before exposing your animals to it. While there are no known reports stating that applying aloe topically is dangerous; if they chew on the plant it may irritate the digestive system.
- Jade Plant (Crassula Argentea) The jade plant is a beautiful, rubbery plant that has the reputation of being “hard to kill.” This makes it a good option for folks who do not have a green thumb. Unfortunately, munching on this plant could cause symptoms such as vomiting and a slow heart rate.
- Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) This plant is popular and easy to grow, but it is toxic. If ingested by both dogs and cats, symptoms include: vomiting and appetite loss. In cats specifically, it can cause difficulty breathing and an increased heart rate.
- Lilies (Many Varieties) Some varieties can pose a threat to your dog, but cat owners should be avoiding lilies completely. This blossom is extremely toxic to your feline friend and can even cause kidney failure. Symptoms include: appetite loss, drooling, and vomiting.
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) I know that I mentioned all lilies above, but the peace lily is another very common houseplant that needs to be addressed. It contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause drooling, oral irritation, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
- Pothos or “Devil’s Ivy” (Epipremnum aureum) This tropical plant is easy to grow, but poisonous to animals. Symptoms of ingestion include: burning of the tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
- Dieffenbachia This plant is known for being low-maintenance, but it can cause severe swelling of the mouth and tongue which leads to difficulty breathing and swallowing.
I have always known that there were house plants that were dangerous for pets, but it is good to have a definitive list. Of course, there are more toxic plants, but I decided to include popular household plants. If you love having plants in your home, do not despair! Below is a list of houseplants that are safe for pets.
Pet Friendly House Plants:
- Spider Plant This indoor plant is a pet friendly houseplant and a household classic that works well in pots and hanging baskets. It is also a pet friendly house plant.
- Areca Palm The Areca palm is known for its air-purifying effects and is easy to care for. It is a popular way to add an indoor tree to your houseplant family. Just make sure that you do not over water.
- African Violet (Saintpaulia) This fuzzy plant blossoms year round. Both the leaves and the flowers are non-toxic to cats and dogs. This makes the African Violet a wonderful option for that pop of color.
- Money Tree This plant is known for bringing good luck to the home. It is also safe for animals which is a definite plus.
- Air Plant (Tillandsia) These plants are nicknamed air plants because they get their nutrients from the air around them. This makes them super manageable and easy to care for. While air plants are non-toxic to pets; they may want to chew on them so keep them out of reach.
- Some Varieties of Ferns It can be tricky to identify ferns especially since there are plants that are named ferns, but are not true ferns. True ferns such as the Boston and maidenhair are safe for animals. Beware of toxic misnomers such as the Asparagus Fern which is really a member of the lily family.
- Christmas Cactus ‘Tis the season for pet friendly plants! Mistletoe, holly berries, and poinsettia are toxic for animals, but the Christmas Cactus is safe.
Hopefully these lists will help you keep your household full of pet-friendly plants. If you have any other recommended pet friendly houseplants please feel free to send us an email.
