Pet-friendly Houseplants

By Holly Ennist Stewart–

One of the topics we are asked about most often in the greenhouse involves pets and houseplants. Customers want to know what they can bring home that won’t harm their non-human friends, even if Fido and Mittens decide to chomp on the foliage or flowers. And we’re not just talking about dogs and cats; reptiles and birds have also entered into these conversations. 

Before we get into specifics, let’s establish what constitutes a “pet-friendly” plant. Animals use their mouths to experience the world in a much more direct way than we do. A pet-friendly plant won’t bother your favorite critters if they decide to munch on it. Fortunately, there are plenty of these to choose from, including most palms (parlor, ponytail, bamboo), some ferns, peperomias, calatheas and orchids. Also pet safe are African violets, echeveria, bromeliad, polka-dot plant, spider plant, hoya, banana, baby’s tears and herbs. Note that this is an abbreviated list; visit the ASPCA website for a comprehensive overview of toxic and non-toxic plants for pets.

Levels of toxicity in houseplants vary widely. Many listed as toxic may just cause moderate irritation in the mouth. However, others may cause seizures or organ failure within hours or days, so it pays to know what you’ve got and how dangerous it may be to your pet. For example, poinsettias have a bad reputation as pet poison, but unless they’ve ingested a huge amount of the leaves, pets are likely to experience only mild symptoms. Generally speaking, animals won’t eat enough of a toxic plant to cause real damage, but there are exceptions. Even in small amounts, lilies can be lethal to dogs and cats; merely licking lily pollen from fur or drinking water from a vase containing lilies can cause kidney failure. An exception to this is the peace lily (not a true lily), which still causes irritation and vomiting.

If your indoor cats are preoccupied with getting at your houseplants, consider growing them some cat grass in a pot – wheat, barley, rye and oats – in order to satisfy their urge to chew on something green and leafy. 

You know your pets better than anyone; if they’ve never bothered your plants before, they’re not likely to start now. On the other hand, if they are excessively curious about new additions to their environment, you might want to hold off on getting that monstera you’ve had your eyes on.

Be sure to contact your vet immediately if your pet is vomiting repeatedly, having seizures or displaying any type of unusual behavior.

Holly Ennist Stewart is a lifelong North Jersey resident. In 2017, she left a decades-long career in the newspaper industry to work with plants and people who love them. She’s been on staff at Glenwild since 2021, and is a cat owner herself!