113 Pet-safe houseplants š¾
Sharing a home with a leaf-curious cat or a puppy that chews first and thinks later narrows your plant choices - but not as much as you might fear. Every plant here is one whose own care notes explicitly describe it as non-toxic or pet-safe, and we leave out anything with a warning, an irritant sap or a 'mildly toxic' footnote.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Any plant can upset a stomach if a determined pet eats enough of it, and 'safe' lists differ between sources - if your animal is a dedicated plant-eater, place even these out of reach and check with your vet.
Aeonium
The Aeonium is a succulent that breaks all the usual succulent rules, and that is exactly whatā¦
African Violet (Saintpaulia / Streptocarpus)
The African Violet is the small, cheerful classic that can flower almost continuously, all yearā¦
Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra Plant)
The Aphelandra squarrosa - the Zebra Plant - is one of the most striking foliage plants you canā¦
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
The Areca Palm - also called the Butterfly Palm or Golden Cane Palm - is the soft, featheryā¦
Baby Rubber Plant Peperomia
The Baby Rubber Plant Peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia) is a compact, semi-succulent foliageā¦
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
The Bird's Nest Fern - Asplenium nidus - is one of the most welcoming ferns you can bringā¦
Bladderwort
Bladderworts run the fastest traps in the plant kingdom - underground/underwater bladders thatā¦
Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum)
The Blue Star Fern - Phlebodium aureum - is an epiphytic fern grown for one striking, unusualā¦
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The Boston Fern is the lush, cascading classic of the fern world - a soft fountain of archingā¦
Brassia (Spider Orchid)
Brassia is the spider orchid - sprays of extraordinary blooms with petals drawn out into 15-20ā¦
Bromeliad (Guzmania, Aechmea, Neoregelia & more)
Bromeliads are the bold, exotic, long-lasting flowering plants that bring a true tropicalā¦
Bulbophyllum Orchid
Bulbophyllum is the orchid family's weird wing - 2,000+ species of hinged, wobblingā¦
Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
The Burro's Tail - Sedum morganianum, also known as the donkey's tail - is a trailing succulentā¦
Button Fern
The button fern is the un-fussy fern - round, leathery, button-like leaflets on wiry archingā¦
Byblis (Rainbow Plant)
Byblis is the rainbow plant - a haze of thread-fine leaves beaded in glue that splits sunlightā¦
Calathea / Prayer Plant (Calathea & Maranta)
Calatheas and their close relatives, the Marantas, are the showpieces of houseplant foliage.
Calathea Lancifolia
Calathea Lancifolia, better known as the rattlesnake plant, is a striking foliage speciesā¦
Calathea Makoyana
Calathea Makoyana, better known as the Peacock Plant or Cathedral Windows, is a showpieceā¦
Calathea Musaica
Calathea Musaica is a collector-favourite foliage plant grown entirely for its extraordinaryā¦
Calathea Ornata
Calathea Ornata, often sold as the "pinstripe plant", is a striking tropical foliage plantā¦
Calathea White Star
Calathea White Star is one of the most striking of the prayer plants, prized for tallā¦
Calathea Zebrina
The Zebra Plant is one of the most striking members of the prayer-plant family, prized forā¦
Calico Hearts (Adromischus maculatus)
Calico hearts is a small, slow, charming succulent whose thick, flattened, heart-shaped leavesā¦
Cape Sundew
The Cape sundew is the gateway carnivore - glistening tentacles that visibly BEND toward aā¦
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
The Cast Iron Plant earned its name honestly: it is famous as the toughest, most indestructibleā¦
Catasetum Orchid
Catasetums are the orchids with a trigger finger - waxy male blooms that CATAPULT pollen ontoā¦
Cattleya Orchid
Cattleya is the corsage orchid - the ruffled, perfumed queen that defined 'orchid' for aā¦
Cephalotus (Albany Pitcher Plant)
Cephalotus is the collector's crown jewel - the only species of its family, a palm-sized Westā¦
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
The Chinese Money Plant is the friendly, quirky houseplant that became an internet sensation.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
The Christmas Cactus is a beloved heirloom houseplant - the one that bursts into vivid, exoticā¦
Cretan Brake Fern
The Cretan brake fern is the easygoing table fern - upright, ribbon-like fronds (often with aā¦
Crinkle-Leaf Plant
The crinkle-leaf plant is a small, slow, charming succulent grown for its wedge-shapedā¦
Crocodile Fern
The crocodile fern earns its name with big, undivided, leathery fronds textured like reptileā¦
Cymbidium Orchid
Cymbidiums are the cool-weather champions - grassy-leaved orchids carrying tall spikes of 10-25ā¦
Darlingtonia (Cobra Lily)
The cobra lily rears from Oregon mountain seeps like a striking snake - hooded, forked-tonguedā¦
Dendrobium Orchid
The Dendrobium is one of the largest and most diverse genera of orchids in the world, with wellā¦
Echeveria
Echeveria is the quintessential rosette succulent - the plump, symmetrical, flower-like rosetteā¦
Epidendrum (Reed-Stem Orchid)
Reed-stem epidendrums are the everblooming garden orchids - cane-stemmed sun-lovers topped withā¦
Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus)
The Epiphyllum - commonly called the Orchid Cactus - is a jungle cactus that breaks all theā¦
Frosty Fern (Spikemoss)
The 'frosty fern' isn't a fern at all - it's a spikemoss, sold everywhere at Christmas for itsā¦
Gasteria (Ox Tongue)
Gasteria is a small, tough, slow-growing succulent from South Africa, best known for its thickā¦
Ghost Plant
The ghost plant is an easy, fast-growing rosette succulent in soft, ghostly shades of paleā¦
Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus / Columnea)
The Goldfish Plant earns its name the moment it flowers.
Gynura (Purple Passion Plant)
The Purple Passion Plant (Gynura aurantiaca) is one of those houseplants that people fall forā¦
Haworthia (Zebra Plant & Window Plants)
Haworthia is the small, tough, charming succulent that fits almost anywhere - a desk, aā¦
Heart Fern
The heart fern is a tiny surprise - small, glossy, heart-shaped leaves on dark wiry stemsā¦
Heliamphora (Sun Pitcher)
Heliamphoras are the grail pitchers of the lost-world tepuis - cloud-swept Venezuelan tableā¦
Holly Fern
The holly fern breaks every fern rule - glossy, stiff, holly-shaped leaflets on tough frondsā¦
Hoya (Wax Plant)
The Hoya, or Wax Plant, is a long-lived, easy-going trailing and climbing plant beloved for twoā¦
Hoya Australis
Hoya australis is Australia's contribution to the windowsill - a glossy, round-leafedā¦
Hoya Curtisii
Hoya curtisii is the tiniest carpet in the genus - fingernail leaves of grey-green mosaic onā¦
Hoya Kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya)
Hoya kerrii is the valentine of the plant world - thick, perfectly heart-shaped leaves sold byā¦
Hoya Lacunosa
Hoya lacunosa is the perfume specialist - modest dimpled little leaves, and then flowers whoseā¦
Hoya Macrophylla
Hoya macrophylla is the architectural one - huge, deeply veined, wax-stiff leaves like embossedā¦
Hoya Multiflora (Shooting Star)
Hoya multiflora is the odd genius of the genus - an upright, shrubby hoya whose flowers don'tā¦
Hoya Obovata
Hoya obovata is the coin-leaf hoya - big, round, thick pancakes of deep green freckled withā¦
Hoya Retusa
Hoya retusa is the grass hoya - flat, ribbon-thin leaves notched at the tip, tumbling from theā¦
Hoya Serpens
Hoya serpens is the collector's soft one - penny-round fuzzy leaves on creeping stems and, atā¦
Hoya Wayetii
Hoya wayetii is the pinstripe hoya - narrow keel-shaped leaves edged in dark maroon thatā¦
Kangaroo Paw Fern
The kangaroo paw fern has fronds shaped like a kangaroo's foot - broad, irregularly-lobedā¦
Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
The Kentia Palm is the elegant, upright indoor palm of grand hotels, conservatories, andā¦
Korean Rock Fern
The Korean rock fern is a compact, dark, finely-cut evergreen fern with stiff, holly-adjacentā¦
Lemon Button Fern
The lemon button fern is a petite, well-behaved cousin of the Boston fern - upright fronds ofā¦
Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)
The Lipstick Plant - Aeschynanthus radicans - is a trailing tropical epiphyte grown for twoā¦
Ludisia discolor (Jewel Orchid)
The Ludisia discolor - the Jewel Orchid - is an orchid grown for the one thing most orchids areā¦
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
The Maidenhair Fern is, by common agreement, one of the most beautiful houseplants there isā¦
Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis)
The Majesty Palm is one of the most widely sold indoor palms in the world - you have almostā¦
Masdevallia Orchid
Masdevallias are the kite orchids of the cloud forest - compact leafy tufts flying triangularā¦
Mexican Butterwort
Mexican butterworts are the flypaper violets - innocent pastel rosettes whose greasy leaves areā¦
Miltoniopsis (Pansy Orchid)
Miltoniopsis is the pansy orchid - big flat velvet blooms with painted 'faces' and one of theā¦
Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
The Money Tree is the houseplant of good fortune - instantly recognizable by its distinctiveā¦
Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant)
Nepenthes are the hanging jugs of the tropics - vining plants whose leaf-tips swell intoā¦
Nerve Plant (Fittonia)
The Nerve Plant is a small, vivid, dramatic little houseplant - its olive-green leaves areā¦
Oncidium Orchid (Dancing Lady Orchid)
The Oncidium, affectionately known as the "Dancing Lady" orchid, is one of the most joyfulā¦
Paphiopedilum (Slipper Orchid)
Paphiopedilums are the slipper orchids - pouched, waxy, almost carnivorous-looking blooms thatā¦
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The Parlor Palm is the easy, elegant, pet-safe palm that has been gracing indoor rooms sinceā¦
Peperomia
Peperomia is not one plant but a huge, wonderfully varied family of compact, easy, pet-safeā¦
Peperomia Columbiana
Peperomia Columbiana is a compact, semi-succulent foliage plant prized for its deepā¦
Peperomia Frost
Peperomia Frost is a compact, semi-succulent foliage plant prized for its shimmeringā¦
Peperomia Ginny
Peperomia Ginny is a compact, semi-succulent foliage plant prized for its rounded leaves edgedā¦
Peperomia Hope
Peperomia Hope is a compact, semi-trailing houseplant loved for its plump, coin-shaped leavesā¦
Phalaenopsis Orchid (Moth Orchid)
The Phalaenopsis, or Moth Orchid, is the orchid for everyone.
Phragmipedium (S. American Slipper)
Phragmipediums are the slippers that love water - South American pouch orchids that growā¦
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
The Polka Dot Plant is pure cheerful color - a small, bushy houseplant whose green leaves areā¦
Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is one of the most charming and characterful houseplants there is - aā¦
Portulacaria Afra (Dwarf Jade / Elephant Bush)
Portulacaria afra - known as Dwarf Jade or Elephant Bush - is a fast-growing, bushy succulentā¦
Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
The Prayer Plant - Maranta leuconeura - is one of the most captivating houseplants you can ownā¦
Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis)
The Rabbit's Foot Fern - Davallia fejeensis - is a delicate, lacy fern grown for two thingsā¦
Raindrop Peperomia
Raindrop Peperomia is a compact, semi-succulent foliage plant loved for its glossyā¦
Rhipsalis (Mistletoe Cactus)
Rhipsalis - the "Mistletoe Cactus" - is a cactus that breaks all the rules you think you knowā¦
Ripple Peperomia
Ripple Peperomia is a compact, semi-succulent houseplant prized for its deeply corrugatedā¦
Sarracenia (American Pitcher Plant)
Sarracenias are the trumpet pitchers of American bogs - tall nectar-baited funnels that drownā¦
Silver Lace Fern
The silver lace fern is a delicate table fern painted down the middle - each narrow leafletā¦
Spathoglottis (Ground Orchid)
Spathoglottis is the flowerbed orchid - a true terrestrial with pleated palm-like leaves andā¦
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Spider Plant is the cheerful, generous, almost foolproof classic of the houseplant world.
Spoonleaf Sundew
The spoonleaf sundew is the pocket carnivore - coin-sized rosettes of spoon-shaped tentacledā¦
Staghorn Fern (Platycerium)
The Staghorn Fern is one of the most dramatic and unusual plants you can grow indoors - a fernā¦
String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
The String of Hearts is one of the most delicate and romantic of all trailing houseplantsā¦
String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata)
The String of Turtles - Peperomia prostrata - is a delicate, slow-growing trailing plant grownā¦
Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus)
Swedish Ivy - Plectranthus verticillatus - is one of the easiest and fastest trailingā¦
Tassel Fern (Polystichum)
The tassel fern earns its name from the way new fronds unfurl - the tip flops back over theā¦
Tillandsia Brachycaulos
Tillandsia Brachycaulos is a soft-leaved epiphytic air plant that grows without soil, drawingā¦
Tillandsia Caput-Medusae
Tillandsia Caput-Medusae is one of the most recognisable air plants, named after theā¦
Tillandsia Fuchsii
Tillandsia fuchsii is a tiny, sculptural air plant prized by collectors for its round bulbousā¦
Tillandsia Ionantha
Tillandsia Ionantha is one of the most popular air plants in the world, a tiny soil-freeā¦
Tillandsia Juncea
Tillandsia juncea is a grass-like air plant that grows a dense fountain of thin, quill-shapedā¦
Tillandsia Stricta
Tillandsia Stricta (Tillandsia stricta) is one of the most popular and forgiving air plants, aā¦
Tillandsia Tectorum
Tillandsia Tectorum is the fuzziest, most snow-white of the air plants, prized by collectorsā¦
Tillandsia Xerographica
Tillandsia Xerographica is the sculptural "king of air plants" - a large, silvery rosette ofā¦
Vanda Orchid
Vandas are the flying orchids - grown in empty baskets with roots dangling meters in the airā¦
Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
The Venus Flytrap is the most famous plant in the world - the plant that eats.
Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)
The Watermelon Peperomia - Peperomia argyreia - is a small, compact South American houseplantā¦
Zygopetalum Orchid
Zygopetalums are the perfume-and-ink orchids - green petals leopard-blotched in mahogany overā¦
Prefer to filter yourself? Try the Plant Finder to narrow all houseplants by light and watering.
Choosing a plant for a home with pets? Our table of plants toxic to cats and dogs shows what every profile says - and the reference behind it is the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.