Many people love both plants and pets. However, as a responsible pet parent, you might feel concerned about getting a new plant. Especially if you own a cat or dog that investigates or chews on plants. What if the plant is toxic and your pet becomes violently ill? Luckily, there are many gorgeous houseplants that are perfectly safe for animals. We collected 20 of the most beautiful species that will add some green to your home without the worry!
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1. The Rattlesnake Plant
Despite the scary name, this lovely houseplant is indeed pet-friendly! A tropical evergreen, this Brazil native is better suited for the experienced plant keeper who can give it the attention it needs to thrive.
One of the things a Rattlesnake Plant needs is a lot of heat and humidity, so if you have a hothouse collection, then this could also be a great choice. However, this distinctive plant will look great anywhere in the home and will thrive in low-light conditions, monthly feedings, and a drop of water when the soil feels dry.
2. Parlor Palm
This plant is perfect for palm fans! With its reed-like stems and delicate fronds, a parlor palm will add beauty to your home for many years. Although this plant, once settled, is low-maintenance, there are some things to keep in mind.
They quickly die from too much direct sunlight or water, so give them a spot where the light is always indirect and only water the plant when the top layer of soil feels dry. Your new Parlor Palm also likes average humidity but hates a draft, so keep it away from windows and fans!
3. Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail Palm must be one of the strangest, if not cutest, plants in existence. Perched on a bonsai-like stem is a mop of “hair” that solves the mystery of how this plant got its name! Interestingly, this is neither a palm nor any kind of tree. It belongs to the Agave family. In other words, it looks like a palm but it’s actually a succulent!
This is another low-maintenance option for beginners. The plant thrives when it’s root bound, so you don’t have to worry about repotting this plant too often. This species prefers drier conditions, so simply water the plant when several inches of the topsoil is dry. You can also offer fertilizer about three times a year.
4. The African Violet
African violets remain a popular choice for those who want a small to medium pot of flowers in the kitchen. The plant is known for its beautiful dark-green leaves which are oval-shaped and fuzzy. The flowers are available in different colors including purple, blue, and white.
African violets are pretty hardy. However, they don’t like direct sunlight and drafty corners. Instead, place them where there is filtered light, and you’ll be rewarded with an abundance of blooms. They also need regular fertilizing and moderate amounts of water.
5. Venus Flytrap
Are you looking to add a carnivorous plant to your collection, one that is also completely pet-friendly? A lot of people are surprised to learn that Venus Flytraps are not toxic to cats and dogs. However, they might not be entirely owner-friendly! In other words, if you have never had a flytrap, prepare for a learning curve about what these plants need to survive – or they will wilt away.
In general, a flytrap needs several hours of direct sunlight every day and must only receive distilled water. The soil around the base should ideally remain moist, so don’t allow your meat-loving pot plant to dry out completely. It also needs well-draining soil like peat or sphagnum moss to thrive.
Here’s everything you need to know about Venus flytrap care.
6. Polka Dot Plant
Another super-popular plant, the Polka Dot is almost immediately recognized by plant lovers. This gorgeous plant hails all the way from Madagascar and grows thick plumes of large leaves. The leaves are mottled with green and pink, giving the plant its distinctive appearance. It’s also a great option if you don’t have a lot of space to spare. The Polka Dot plant rarely grows taller than ten inches.
Caring for your pink beauty is also not rocket science. All it needs is bright, indirect sunlight, fertilizer once a month during the growing season, and some water when the soil feels dry. The plant will also thrive in mild to warmer climates.
7. Staghorn Fern
The Staghorn fern is versatile. You can pot this plant, mount it against a wall or a panel, or place it in a hanging basket. This Australian native has broad leaves that roughly resemble a stag’s horn, hence the beautiful name. It thrives in areas where there is indirect or bright light but a dark room will spell the end of your fern.
It also needs well-draining soil and should never sit in soggy mediums. Test the soil and if the top layer is dry, it’s safe to give the plant a drink. Depending on the humidity, Staghorn ferns need a good watering every one to three weeks. This fern makes a beautiful bathroom plant but since the humidity is bound to be higher in this room, you only need to water it about every three to four weeks.
8. Baby Tears
The plant has a slightly unsettling name but its beautiful foliage, which likely inspired the moniker, also makes Baby Tears a stunning hanging plant. The tendrils might make a good toy for your cat but rest assured, the plant is safe for felines and dogs alike.
The good news is that Baby Tears is a forgiving plant and thus great for beginners. However, while it’s happy with indirect sunlight and being left to its own devices, you need to make sure that it gets enough water. That’s the only caveat with this plant. When it gets thirsty, it can wilt very quickly.
9. Date Palm
This species is guaranteed to add a stylish touch to any room. The palm grows relatively slowly but it can reach a good height. The Date Palm makes a brilliant vocal point, making it popular with homeowners who incorporate plants into their interior decoration. Care-wise, it likes to stay on the dry side and also prefers bright but indirect sunlight. It doesn’t need pruning or any other special care.
Learn how to care for an outdoors date palm in your garden.
10. Mini Money Tree
According to legend, this handsome guy will boost your luck and finances! The plant is also very stylish and slick enough for the minimalist home. It has an upright stem and glossy, dark-green leaves. Beyond the fun myths and good looks, another reason for the Money Tree’s popularity is that this plat is truly easy to care for.
New plant parents do not need to learn complex care requirements, despite that the Money Tree looks like a species only experts should handle! Simply provide it with bright light and allow the pot to dry out between waterings, and your Mini Money Tree will stay healthy.
11. Spider Plant
If you liked the Ponytail Palm earlier on our list, then you will definitely love this plant! The Spider Plant has the same tuft of “hair” but since it doesn’t have the same long stem, it makes a better choice for your hanging basket collection.
The strappy leaves are curly and attractive, colored light green, and lined with white stripes. This plant is also relatively easy to care for. It thrives in bright light, away from direct sunlight. It also loves moist soil but never let your Spider Plant sit in lots of water.
12. Air Plants
This unusual plant ticks several boxes. They are ornamental. They really don’t need a lot of space. Furthermore, they are low maintenance. The Tillandsia varieties are also pet-friendly. Air plants are content if you give them lots of bright, indirect sunlight and a soak in water about every week or so.
That being said, you must keep two things in mind if you want to add these unusual plants to your collection. Their full care regime requires a learning curve and the glass containers in which most people keep them can endanger pets when shattered.
Your guide to caring for your first air plant.
13. The Watermelon Plant
Just to be clear, this is not the vining plant that bears watermelon fruit! Nope. This plant is also known as the Aluminum Plant. Popularly known for its variegated green-and-gray leaves, it never grows beyond 12 inches high, so you can easily place it outside your pet’s reach. This plant is also easy to maintain. Simply provide your Watermelon Plant with medium light conditions, water when the upper layer of the soil is dry, and give a liquid fertilizer every other month or so.
14. Boston Fern
The Boston Fern is a hardy species perfect for beginners. They thrive in moist and humid conditions, like the bathroom. You can also nestle this beautiful fern in a hanging basket where there is moderate light. This plant, known for its fishbone fronds, will also do well in well-draining, moist soil. When not kept in the bathroom, the Boston Fern also appreciates having its leaves misted daily.
15. The Prayer Plant
Prayer Plants make perfect shelf pets due to their diminished size – and they are also safe for your furry pets! Growing between six and eight inches high, the Prayer Plant is known for its striking leaves. The foliage almost gives the impression that a creative person has drawn lines all over them – they are that bold and unusual!
This pet-friendly houseplant also comes in many varieties, giving you a wide selection if, perhaps, you feel like collecting a series of different Prayer Plants for ornamental purposes. Caring for your beautiful bush is also easy. Place it near medium or low light and allow the soil to dry out before watering the plant.
Fun Fact: The Prayer Plant closes its leaves at night, almost prayer-like, and that’s how it got its name!
16. Wandering Jew
Wandering Jew plants are truly gorgeous. Indeed, just one of them will take your hanging basket collection to the next level. This plant has cascading tendrils, which are thick and lush. The attractive leaves are mottled with dark green, pink, and purple.
The Wandering Jew is native to South and Central America, meaning that it likes tropical conditions. However, you don’t have to provide a fake jungle to keep your plant happy. All it needs is average humidity, bright (but indirect) sunlight, and a moderate amount of water.
17. Peperomia Plants
If you are a Peperomia fan, then you are probably very happy to see this plant on our list! True, this group of plants – which offers you tons of gorgeous varieties, by the way – has a lot of fans in the plant community. It’s not hard to understand why. They are pet-friendly, exotic, long-lasting, and hardy.
Furthermore, once you know how to treat your species of Peperomia, it is likely to become one of the easiest plants in your collection to care for. Although care requirements differ for each species, they generally tolerate low to strong indirect light, some humidity, and medium watering.
18. String of Hearts
The String of Hearts is a fascinating plant. Native to southwest Africa, it’s a succulent but also a creeping vine. When it grows outdoors, this plant will propagate itself in a prolific manner. The tendrils root wherever they touch the ground. Eventually, the plant will turn into a thick mass of beautiful foliage. Some of these “carpets” can grow more than four feet long. But what about keeping a String of Hearts plant indoors?
This plant will flourish on a shelf or windowsill where it can soak up bright, indirect light. The small leaves burn easily in direct sunlight. You can also place this plant in a basket, an option that will certainly display the leaves in the best way possible! Only water when the top soil is dry and fertilize during the growing season.
19. Christmas Cactus
This festive plant is a great choice if you love cacti. Indeed, the Christmas Cactus has dazzled many plant parents with its flat, spiky leaves and stunning pink flowers. It also doesn’t steal too much space. Staying under 12 inches, you can keep this cactus on your desk, shelf, or windowsill. Keep in mind, however, that it can spread sidewise! A Christmas Cactus can expand up to two feet.
Care requirements include bright, indirect sunlight and regular waterings. Although the Christmas Cactus is non-toxic for pets, the leaves can still cause intestinal problems when consumed.
20. The Moth Orchid
The Moth Orchid is a safe choice for pet parents who want an orchid. Not only is this species safe for cats and dogs but it’s also very easy to find. Moth Orchids are the most common type found at plant centers. While you need to brush up on your knowledge to properly care for this orchid, you can look forward to a tall beauty (they grow up to three feet in height) and a plant that is tolerant of low light as well as bright light.
There is a caveat. All orchids require a special potting mix and dogs (and sometimes cats) sometimes like to eat potting soil. Since orchid blends often contain bark chips and other materials that are harmful, your pet could develop symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even gastroenteritis.
