Safe Plants to Keep in a Pet-Friendly Home

Several of the most popular houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, including pothos, monstera, peace lilies and aloe. Most cause mouth irritation, drooling or vomiting rather than lasting harm, but a few are genuinely dangerous. Lilies can cause kidney failure in cats from a single leaf or a little pollen licked off their fur, and sago palms can be fatal to dogs.

That still leaves plenty of good options. The plants below are listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs by the ASPCA, and they're grouped by where they grow best, since a plant that suits the spot will look better and get chewed less out of boredom.

For a bright windowsill

The African violet (Saintpaulia) is one of the few flowering plants that blooms reliably indoors. It stays small, likes bright light without direct afternoon sun, and prefers to be watered from below so the fuzzy leaves stay dry.

The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) has leaves splashed with pink, red or white. It grows fast and gets leggy, so pinch the tips back every few weeks to keep it bushy.

Haworthias look like small aloes and are a good substitute for anyone who wants a succulent without aloe's toxicity. They need very little water and stay compact for years.

For a room with modest light

The parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) has been a houseplant since Victorian times because it tolerates dim corners. It grows slowly, which makes it a good fit for small apartments.

The cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) earns its name. It handles low light, irregular watering and dry air, and its broad, stiff leaves hold little appeal for most chewers.

Calatheas and the related prayer plants fold their patterned leaves upward at night. They're safe for pets but fussy about humidity and water quality, and brown leaf edges are usually a sign the air is too dry or the tap water too hard.

For height and a tropical look

The areca palm and the bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) both grow tall enough to fill a corner and are safe for pets. Be careful with names here. "Lucky bamboo" sold in vases of water is actually a Dracaena, and Dracaenas are toxic to cats and dogs.

The ponytail palm, with its swollen trunk and spray of thin leaves, isn't a palm at all, but it is pet-safe and survives long periods of neglect.

For hanging baskets and humid bathrooms

The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is famously easy and famously attractive to cats, who like to bat and chew the dangling runners. It's non-toxic, though eating a lot of any plant can upset a cat's stomach, so a hanging basket helps keep the peace.

The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) thrives in a steamy bathroom. Not every plant called a fern is safe: the asparagus fern, which isn't a true fern, is toxic and can irritate skin as well.

Peperomias come in dozens of leaf shapes and sizes, all of them pet-safe, and most stay small enough for a shelf. The friendship plant (Pilea involucrata), with its quilted bronze-green leaves, is another compact, safe choice.

Popular plants to keep out of reach

Pothos, philodendron, monstera, ZZ plant, snake plant, dieffenbachia, peace lily, aloe, jade plant and English ivy are all on the ASPCA's toxic list. Most of them contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause painful mouth irritation and drooling. If you already own some, a high shelf or a room your pet doesn't use is usually enough, but lilies are different: cat households shouldn't keep true lilies or daylilies anywhere in the house, including in cut-flower bouquets.

Cut flowers and seasonal plants

Bouquets cause more trouble than many owners expect. Besides lilies, tulip and daffodil bulbs are toxic, with the highest concentration in the bulb itself, which matters for dogs that dig. Azaleas and rhododendrons can cause serious heart and digestive problems. Sago palms, often sold as small potted plants, are among the most dangerous of all for dogs, since every part of the plant is toxic and the seeds most of all.

Some plants have a worse reputation than they deserve. Poinsettias usually cause only mild mouth and stomach irritation. The Christmas cactus is non-toxic, and so are the moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) sold in most supermarkets, which makes them a good choice for gifts to households with pets.

Signs a pet has eaten something it shouldn't

Drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite are the most common signs after a pet chews a toxic plant. In cats, lily poisoning may start with vomiting and lethargy and then seem to improve before kidney damage sets in, so a cat that has touched a lily needs a vet even if it seems fine. Treatment within the first few hours makes a big difference.

If your pet eats something

Try to identify the plant, take a photo, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply). Don't try to make your pet vomit unless a professional tells you to. For a new plant, a quick search of the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant database before you buy takes less than a minute.