Houseplants for Beginners
by Rebecca De La Paz
About 120 plant profiles, each with notes on whether the plant is pet-friendly.
View on AmazonTool · Reference
Pet-Safe Plant Checker
By the Plantshop.com Editorial Team · Updated · How we research · Report an error
Is a houseplant safe for cats and dogs? Search 71 common houseplants. Every status comes from the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant list.
| Plant | Botanical name | Cats & dogs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Violet | Saintpaulia spp. (Streptocarpus ionanthus) | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Air Plant | Tillandsia spp. | Not listed | ASPCA |
| Alocasia | Alocasia spp. (e.g. A. × amazonica 'Polly') | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Alocasia Black Velvet | Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet' | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Aloe Vera | Aloe vera | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Anthurium | Anthurium andraeanum | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Areca Palm | Dypsis lutescens | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Arrowhead Plant | Syngonium podophyllum | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Begonia | Begonia spp. (incl. B. maculata, B. rex) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Begonia Maculata (Polka Dot Begonia) | Begonia maculata | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Bird of Paradise | Strelitzia reginae / S. nicolai | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Bird's Nest Fern | Asplenium nidus | Not listed | ASPCA |
| Boston Fern | Nephrolepis exaltata | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Bromeliad | Guzmania and other bromeliads | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Burro's Tail | Sedum morganianum | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Calathea | Goeppertia (formerly Calathea) | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Cast Iron Plant | Aspidistra elatior | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Chinese Evergreen | Aglaonema | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Chinese Money Plant | Pilea peperomioides | Not listed | ASPCA |
| Christmas Cactus | Schlumbergera spp. | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Croton | Codiaeum variegatum | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Dieffenbachia | Dieffenbachia seguine (dumb cane) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Dracaena | Dracaena fragrans, D. marginata and others | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Echeveria | Echeveria spp. | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| English Ivy | Hedera helix | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Fiddle Leaf Fig | Ficus lyrata | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Gardenia | Gardenia jasminoides | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Haworthia | Haworthiopsis attenuata and Haworthia spp. (zebra plant) | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Heartleaf Philodendron | Philodendron hederaceum | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Hoya (Wax Plant) | Hoya carnosa | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant) | Hoya carnosa | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Indoor Bonsai Tree | Usually Ficus (ficus or 'ginseng ficus'); bonsai is a growing technique, not a species | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Jade Plant | Crassula ovata | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Kalanchoe | Kalanchoe blossfeldiana | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Kentia Palm | Howea forsteriana | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Lemon Tree | Citrus limon (incl. 'Improved Meyer', Citrus × meyeri) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Maidenhair Fern | Adiantum raddianum | Not listed | ASPCA |
| Majesty Palm | Ravenea rivularis | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Money Tree | Pachira aquatica | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Monstera | Monstera deliciosa | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Monstera Adansonii | Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Monstera Thai Constellation | Monstera deliciosa 'Thai Constellation' | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Moth Orchid | Phalaenopsis | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Nerve Plant | Fittonia albivenis | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Norfolk Island Pine | Araucaria heterophylla | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Olive Tree | Olea europaea | Not listed | ASPCA |
| Parlor Palm | Chamaedorea elegans | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Peace Lily | Spathiphyllum | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Peperomia | Peperomia obtusifolia and others | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Philodendron Birkin | Philodendron 'Birkin' | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Philodendron Pink Princess | Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess' | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Polka Dot Plant | Hypoestes phyllostachya | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Ponytail Palm | Beaucarnea recurvata | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Pothos | Epipremnum aureum | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Prayer Plant | Maranta leuconeura | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma (Mini Monstera) | Rhaphidophora tetrasperma | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Rosemary | Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis) | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Rubber Plant | Ficus elastica | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Scindapsus Pictus (Satin Pothos) | Scindapsus pictus | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Snake Plant | Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Spider Plant | Chlorophytum comosum | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Staghorn Fern | Platycerium bifurcatum | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| String of Hearts | Ceropegia woodii | Not listed | ASPCA |
| String of Pearls | Curio rowleyanus (syn. Senecio) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Tradescantia (Wandering Dude) | Tradescantia zebrina | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Umbrella Plant | Heptapleurum arboricola (syn. Schefflera arboricola) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Venus Flytrap | Dionaea muscipula | Non-toxic | ASPCA |
| Weeping Fig | Ficus benjamina | Toxic | ASPCA |
| Yucca Cane | Yucca gigantea (Y. elephantipes) | Toxic | ASPCA |
| ZZ Plant | Zamioculcas zamiifolia | Toxic | ASPCA |
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Important
Non-toxic does not mean edible; any plant can upset a stomach in large amounts. If your pet may have eaten a toxic plant, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center straight away. Common names overlap, so check the botanical name.
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