New to houseplants and sharing your home with a cat or dog? Start here. These 12 pet-safe plants are all non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA — and they're genuinely easy to keep alive.
1. Spider Plant 'Bonnie'
The curly-leafed cousin of the classic spider plant. Tolerates low light, missed waterings, and general neglect — and makes baby plantlets you can gift. Shop Spider Plant 'Bonnie'.
2. Parlor Palm
Grows slowly, asks for little, and looks elegant on a bookshelf. One of the most low-light-tolerant pet-safe plants there is. Shop Parlor Palm.
3. Ponytail Palm
Stores water in its trunk, so underwatering is nearly impossible. A great "set it and forget it" plant. Shop Ponytail Palm.
4. Watermelon Peperomia
Compact, with leaves patterned like tiny watermelons. Loves a bright windowsill and stays small. Shop Watermelon Peperomia.
5. Pilea Peperomioides
The "Chinese money plant" with coin-shaped leaves. Easy, fast-growing, and endlessly giftable via its offshoots. Shop Pilea.
6. Maranta 'Lemon Lime'
A prayer plant whose leaves fold up at night. Loves humidity — great for bathrooms. Shop Maranta 'Lemon Lime'.
7. Hoya 'Tricolor'
Waxy, slow-growing, and eventually fragrant when it blooms. Nearly impossible to overwater-kill. Shop Hoya 'Tricolor'.
8. Rattlesnake Calathea
The most dramatic plant on this list — patterned leaves with purple undersides. Likes consistent moisture. Shop Rattlesnake Calathea.
9. Bird's-Nest Fern
Broad, wavy fronds that thrive in humidity. True ferns are non-toxic across the board. Shop Bird's-Nest Fern.
10. Zebra Succulent
Looks like an aloe, but unlike aloe it's completely pet-safe. Perfect sunny-windowsill plant. Shop Zebra Succulent.
11. White Phalaenopsis Orchid
Elegant blooms that last for months — and non-toxic. The only "difficult" thing about it is resisting buying more. Shop White Orchid.
12. String of Turtles
A trailing peperomia with tiny turtle-shell leaves. Adorable in a hanging pot, safe around pets. Shop String of Turtles.
Beginner tips
- Light matters more than water. Most beginner plant deaths are low light, not underwatering. When in doubt, move it closer to a window.
- Start with 2–3. Learn their rhythms before filling the house.
- Non-toxic ≠ snack. Even safe plants can cause stomach upset if a pet eats a lot — discourage chewing and call your vet if your pet seems unwell.
See them all in our Pet-Safe Plants collection, and read the full pet-safe houseplant guide for the complete picture.