If you love houseplants but worry about the safety of your furry friends, you're in luck! Many beautiful and easy-to-care-for houseplants are perfectly safe for pets. This list features 13 pet-friendly houseplants that can keep your home green and healthy without putting your pets at risk. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced plant enthusiast, these plants will help you create a lush, inviting space that both you and your pets can enjoy.
1. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
The Areca Palm is a beautiful, feathery plant that adds a tropical vibe to any room. It's non-toxic to both cats and dogs, making it a safe choice for homes with pets. Areca Palms thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer consistently moist soil, but be careful not to overwater. They are also great for improving indoor air quality, helping to create a healthier living space.
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Spider Plant is a classic houseplant that is both easy to care for and safe for pets. Its long, arching leaves and small white flowers make it a lovely addition to any room. Spider Plants can adapt to various light conditions, though they do best in bright, indirect light. They are also known for producing “babies” or offshoots, which can be propagated to create new plants.
3. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The Boston Fern is a lush, green plant with feathery fronds that add a touch of nature to your home. It is non-toxic to pets, making it a great choice for households with curious cats or dogs. Boston Ferns prefer high humidity and indirect light, so they thrive well in bathrooms or other humid areas. Regular watering is key to keeping them healthy, as they can dry out quickly.
4. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The Parlor Palm is a popular indoor plant known for its elegant, arching fronds. It’s completely safe for pets, which makes it an excellent choice for pet owners looking to add greenery to their homes. Parlor Palms are easy to care for and do well in low to moderate light, which makes them ideal for almost any room. They also help purify the air, creating a fresher environment.
5. Calathea (Calathea spp.)
Calathea plants are known for their striking, patterned leaves that come in a variety of colors and shapes. They are non-toxic to pets, so you can safely keep them in homes with cats or dogs. Calatheas prefer low to medium indirect light and like their soil to be kept consistently moist. These plants also tend to move their leaves in response to light, which can be fascinating to observe.
6. African Violet (Saintpaulia spp.)
African Violets are compact plants that produce beautiful clusters of colorful flowers. They are pet-friendly and safe to keep around cats and dogs. African Violets thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer to be watered from the bottom to keep their leaves dry. They do well in small pots, making them perfect for windowsills or small spaces that need a pop of color.
7. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
The Prayer Plant is named for the way its leaves fold up at night, resembling hands in prayer. This pet-safe plant is a great choice for adding a splash of color to your home, with its green, red, and purple-patterned leaves. Prayer Plants do well in low to medium light and prefer slightly moist soil. They are relatively easy to care for, making them a favorite among plant enthusiasts.
8. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.)
Maidenhair Ferns are delicate, graceful plants with small, fan-shaped leaflets that add an elegant touch to any room. They are non-toxic to pets, making them a safe addition to homes with animals. These ferns thrive in indirect light and high humidity, so they do well in bathrooms or other humid environments. Regular watering is important, as Maidenhair Ferns prefer consistently moist soil.
9. Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)
The Friendship Plant is a charming, pet-friendly plant with quilted, textured leaves. It gets its name because it’s easy to propagate and share with friends. Friendship Plants do well in moderate to low light and prefer their soil to be kept slightly moist. They are relatively easy to care for, making them a great choice for beginners looking to add some greenery to their space.
10. Haworthia (Haworthia cooperi)
Haworthia is a small, succulent plant that is safe for pets and perfect for adding a touch of greenery to small spaces. Its rosettes of thick, fleshy leaves are easy to care for and can tolerate a range of light conditions, though they do best in bright, indirect light. Haworthias need well-draining soil and prefer to dry out between waterings, making them a low-maintenance option for busy households.
11. Peperomia (Peperomia caperata)
Peperomia is a popular pet-friendly plant with heart-shaped, wrinkled leaves that come in shades of green, red, or even silver. It’s a great choice for adding color and texture to your home without worrying about your pets. Peperomias do well in medium to bright indirect light and need only moderate watering. Their compact size makes them perfect for shelves or tabletops.
12. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is an interesting, pet-safe plant with a bulbous base and long, curly leaves that resemble a ponytail. Despite its name, it’s not actually a palm but rather a succulent, which means it’s easy to care for. Ponytail Palms thrive in bright, indirect light and require infrequent watering, as their thick trunk stores water. They are a great choice for adding a bit of whimsy to your home.
13. Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
The Polka Dot Plant is known for its brightly colored leaves, which are speckled with pink, white, or red spots. It’s a pet-friendly plant that can add a fun pop of color to your indoor space. Polka Dot Plants prefer bright, indirect light and like their soil to be kept slightly moist. They are relatively easy to care for but may need occasional pruning to maintain their bushy shape.
Bring Greenery into Your Pet-Friendly Home
These 13 pet-friendly houseplants are perfect for adding natural beauty to your home without compromising the safety of your beloved pets. From easy-care succulents to lush ferns, there is something here for every plant lover. Adding these plants to your living space not only brightens up your home but also contributes to a healthier environment that both you and your pets can enjoy. Start small and watch your indoor garden grow, knowing that your furry friends are safe.