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13 Pet-Friendly Plants That Are Safe for Your Furry Friends

Anyone who owns pets knows how hard it can be to make sure you have everything you need to keep them safe and happy. The right food, enough water, and a nice place to sleep — these are all common hurdles pet owners know about and, better yet, know how to get over. 

But what about plants? Having the wrong type of plants in the house can be a major health hazard for our furry friends. That’s why having pet-friendly plants that won’t upset your companion’s stomach (or worse) is so important! Luckily, there are plenty of plants out there that fit the bill, including the thirteen you’ll find on this list.

1. Spider Plant

Spider plant
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First up, we’ve got the ever-popular spider plant, aka the Chlorophytum comosum. This low-maintenance greenery has long, arching leaves with white or cream stripes and does best in indirect sunlight with very little watering.

In fact, Architectural Digest shares that the spider plant is well-known for being very hard to kill, so it is perfect for homes with beginner plant parents!

2. Areca Palm

Areca Palm plant
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Next up is the Areca palm, which Pawness tells us is non-toxic to cats and dogs and safe for households with little kids running around. Just make sure you get the correct palm species, as other kinds can be more toxic to your furry friends.

This tree’s tall, wispy fronds are gorgeous and can take up quite a bit of space, with the palm growing up to 7 feet tall indoors if cared for properly. Give it bright, indirect sunlight and weekly watering while keeping the soil moist but not soggy for best-growing results.

3. Boston Fern

Boston Fern plant
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When it comes to striking little plants that are also pet-friendly, House Beautiful highly recommends the Boston fern. It has striking looks, complete with feather-like fronds and bright green coloring, and it thrives in high humidity and indirect light. That makes it the perfect choice for bathrooms or other humid areas where you might be unable to put in another plant. 

4. Parlor Palm

Parlor Palm plant
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Low-maintenance and stunningly pretty, the parlor palm is another pet-safe favorite for indoor spaces.

This compact palm is perfect for homes and offices, and it does really well in low-light conditions, so even if your room doesn’t have the most natural sunlight, it can still do well. It has minimal watering needs, which means less time spent on upkeep and more time spent playing with your pet pal.

5. Calathea

Calathea plant
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The calathea is a plant best known for its colorful foliage, but, as shared by the ASPCA, they’re also completely safe for pets! To help keep your plant at its best, place it in a spot where it will get indirect light and make sure it has consistently moist soil without overwatering. This is another plant that likes high humidity, so you might want to mist the leaves or use a humidifier wherever you place them.

6. Baby’s Tears

Baby’s Tears plant
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While the name might seem a bit out of the ordinary, Baby’s Tears is a pretty good pick for indoor plants that are also perfectly safe for your pet. They produce a thick carpet of tiny, round leaves draping down long vines, so they’re great for hanging baskets or even as ground cover in larger pots. Keep them in indirect light and slightly moist soil for best results.

7. Polka Dot Plant

Polka Dot Plant
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Perhaps one of the prettiest flowering plants on this list, the polka dot plant earns its name from the speckled white, pink, or red leaves with a gorgeous “paint-splattered” effect. These pretty plants are safe for pets, so you can bring them into your home without getting worried. Just make sure to give it the required moderate watering and bright, indirect light so it can keep its colors popping.

8. Ponytail Palm

Ponytail Palm plant
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If you’re someone who is looking for a low-maintenance plant that can be kept in your house without harming your pets, the ponytail palm should be up there at the top of your list. It has a larger trunk base and thin, cascading leaves that give it a gorgeous fountain-like effect.

While its name might make you think it is a palm, it’s actually a type of succulent, meaning it is okay for even forgetful plant owners to own. Just stick it in some bright, indirect light and water when the soil is completely dry, and you’ll have a pet-safe plant for a long time. 

9. Zebra Plant

Haworthia - the zebra plant
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Another pretty little succulent is next up on our list. Zebra Plants grow in small, rosette-shaped clusters of spiky green and are incredibly easy to care for. To be its best, it needs minimal watering, bright yet indirect light, and dry conditions.

Pet parents need to make sure they are buying a Zebra Plant and not an Aloe plant because while the two look similar, Zebras are non-toxic to pets, while Aloes are not!

10. Rattlesnake Plant

Rattlesnake Plant
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Don’t let the name scare you! The rattlesnake plant is actually a pet-friendly, non-toxic plant that features long, wavy green leaves with a stylish spotted pattern. According to Happy Houseplants, this plant prefers high humidity and moist soil, and you’ll want to keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.

One of the most interesting parts of the rattlesnake plant is that it will fold up its leaves at night until they resemble a rattlesnake’s rattle. It’s the perfect way to add exotic beauty to your space without posing a problem for your pets!

11. Rosemary

Rosemary plant
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For anyone who wants a “useful” houseplant to keep around their home, rosemary might be your best bet. This herb can be grown indoors, and, as shared by Country Living, it just needs bright light and quick watering any time its soil gets a bit dry. The best part about rosemary is that you can strip its leaves to add flavor to any dish — including your pet’s!

12. Swedish Ivy

Swedish Ivy plant
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Swedish Ivy is the go-to for any pet parent who wants a trailing plant that is also pet-friendly. It has scalloped, bright green leaves that can trail out to about three feet in spread and, overall, is easy to care for. Give it bright, indirect sunlight, and moderate watering; just let the soil dry slightly before you go in and give it more water. The ASPCA recognizes this ivy as being non-toxic to pets, so you can hang it up just about anywhere in your house without feeling guilty if your dog or cat gets ahold of a leaf or two.

13. Prayer Plant

Prayer Plant
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To round out our list, we’ve got the prayer plant, which is as gorgeous as it is pet-friendly. It boasts oval-shaped leaves that are pretty pink, red, and green. It does best when in a spot with high humidity and requires consistently moist soil alongside filtered or indirect light.

Another interesting point about the prayer plant is it also displays the ability to fold its leaves up at night, making it look like praying hands at the end of the day.

Author

  • Bonnie's interests include hiking, a passion she nurtured while living in Upstate New York, and cooking, gardening, and home decorating. These hobbies allow her to express her creativity and connect with nature, providing a well-rounded balance to her busy life. Through her professional achievements, community involvement, and personal pursuits, she embodies a holistic approach to life, dedicated to service, growth, and well-being.

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