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27 best pet-safe low-maintenance plants

The dream for a busy home with pets: a plant you can forget to water and still trust around the cat. These species are both ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy to dry out between waterings.

How this list is built: plants that are both ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs and drought-tolerant (they prefer to dry out between waterings)— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

PlantLightWaterPets
Anise hyssopDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-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
Cast iron plantLow light (north window or shaded room)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
CatnipDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
CosmosDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
DillDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
EcheveriaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 10-14 days in summerPet-safe
HaworthiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
Herb gardenDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Depends on the herbPet-safe
HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is mostly dry, every 10-14 daysPet-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
Maidenhair fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Keep evenly moist — often every 2-3 daysPet-safe
NasturtiumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
OkraDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly deep wateringPet-safe
OreganoDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top 2 cm 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
Ponytail palmDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
RosemaryDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10-14 daysPet-safe
SageDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top of the soil is dry, every 7-14 daysPet-safe
SedumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 days for potted plantsPet-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
Summer savoryDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Sweet marjoramDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
ThymeDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Wax plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Winter savoryDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe

Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best pet-safe low-maintenance plants?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is plants that are both ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs and drought-tolerant (they prefer to dry out between waterings), drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 27 plants qualify today.

How many pet-safe low-maintenance plants are there?

Growli currently lists 27 plants that meet the criterion (plants that are both ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs and drought-tolerant (they prefer to dry out between waterings)). 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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