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55 best pet-safe houseplants

If a pet shares your home, the plant on the low shelf needs to be safe before it is beautiful. These are the houseplants in our library that the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — no guesswork, no "probably fine".

How this list is built: every plant Growli classifies as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA-sourced) that is grown as a houseplant— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

PlantLightWaterPets
African violetMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top of the soil feels just dry, every 5-7 daysPet-safe
Air plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Soak weekly for 20-30 minutesPet-safe
Areca palmBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysPet-safe
Boston fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1 cm of soil is just dry, every 3-5 daysPet-safe
BromeliadBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep the central cup filled, soil barely moistPet-safe
Burro's tailBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 14-21 daysPet-safe
Button fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Cacti (general care)Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)Soak when the mix is bone dry — roughly every 2-4 weeks in summerPet-safe
CalatheaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is just dry, every 4-7 daysPet-safe
Cast iron plantLow light (north window or shaded room)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Cattleya orchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the bark mix is nearly dry, every 5-10 daysPet-safe
Chinese money plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Christmas cactusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
CosmosDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Crocodile fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 daysPet-safe
Dendrobium orchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the bark approaches dryness, every 5-10 days in summerPet-safe
EcheveriaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 10-14 days in summerPet-safe
FittoniaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1 cm of soil is dry, every 3-5 daysPet-safe
Forget-me-notMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
GuzmaniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep the central cup filled; water soil weeklyPet-safe
HaworthiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
HibiscusDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering every 5-7 days, more in heatPet-safe
HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is mostly dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
ImpatiensMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
Kentia palmMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Kimberly queen fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysPet-safe
Lady palmMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Lemon button fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 daysPet-safe
LithopsDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Follow the seasonal cycle, not a schedulePet-safe
Maidenhair fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Keep evenly moist — often every 2-3 daysPet-safe
Majesty palmBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep soil consistently moist, every 4-7 daysPet-safe
Money treeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-14 daysPet-safe
NasturtiumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Norfolk Island pineBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Once a week — soak the medium thoroughly, then drainPet-safe
PansyDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
Parlor palmMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
PeperomiaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the soil is almost fully dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
PetuniaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Even moisture — every 1-2 days for hanging baskets in heatPet-safe
Polka dot plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 daysPet-safe
Ponytail palmDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
Prayer plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1 cm of soil is just dry, every 4-6 daysPet-safe
PrimroseMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
RoseDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a week, more in heatPet-safe
SalviaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
SedumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 days for potted plantsPet-safe
SnapdragonDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Spider plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Staghorn fernBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Soak the mount weekly in summer, every 2-3 weeks in winterPet-safe
String of heartsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
SunflowerDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a weekPet-safe
Sweetheart plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 14-21 daysPet-safe
VrieseaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep central cup filled; water soil weeklyPet-safe
Wax plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
ZinniaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a weekPet-safe

Best pet-safe houseplants — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best pet-safe houseplants?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is every plant Growli classifies as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA-sourced) that is grown as a houseplant, drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 55 plants qualify today.

How many pet-safe houseplants are there?

Growli currently lists 55 plants that meet the criterion (every plant Growli classifies as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA-sourced) that is grown as a houseplant). The list updates as the plant-care library grows; each entry links to a full care guide.

Are these plants safe for cats and dogs?

Yes — every plant on this list is classified as non-toxic to cats and dogs against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list. Tap any plant for its full pet-safety detail.

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