Best plants

2733 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.

Plant	Light	Water	Pets
'Armenian' Cucumber temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, often daily in hot weather	Pet-safe
'Bright Lights' Swiss Chard temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Evenly moist, about 25 mm (1 inch) per week	Pet-safe
'Castelfranco' Radicchio temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Evenly moist, about every 3-4 days; weekly in cool weather	Pet-safe
'Cavolo Nero' Kale temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 5-7 days; more in heat	Pet-safe
'Chioggia' Beetroot temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Keep soil evenly moist, roughly 25 mm (1 inch) per week	Pet-safe
'Crookneck' Summer Squash temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 3-4 cm of soil is dry, every 2-3 days and daily in heat	Pet-safe
'French Breakfast' Radish temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Consistent moisture, about 25 mm (1 inch) per week	Pet-safe
'Golden' Beetroot temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Evenly moist, about 25 mm (1 inch) per week	Pet-safe
'Lemon' Cucumber temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, often daily in warm weather	Pet-safe
'Painted Mountain' Corn temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Deeply once or twice a week, about 25mm (1 inch) total, more in heat	Pet-safe
'Paris Market' Carrot temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Even moisture, about 25 mm (1 inch) per week	Pet-safe
'Red Russian' Kale temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, about every 5-7 days	Pet-safe
'Romanesco' Broccoli temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Deeply 1-2 times weekly; never let the soil dry out while curds are forming	Pet-safe
'Watermelon' Radish temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Steady moisture, about 25 mm (1 inch) per week	Pet-safe
Abyssinian Peperomia temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Every 10–14 days in the growing season; every 3–4 weeks in winter	Pet-safe
Acer capillipes temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Water deeply weekly while establishing; supplement in summer droughts	Pet-safe
Acer griseum temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Water deeply weekly while establishing; supplement in summer droughts	Pet-safe
Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Keep evenly moist; water deeply through dry weather	Pet-safe
Acer palmatum 'Butterfly' temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	When the top 3-5 cm of soil is dry; keep evenly moist, more often in pots and heat	Pet-safe
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Blaze' temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Weekly while establishing; deep watering in droughts thereafter	Pet-safe
Acer rubrum 'October Glory' temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Weekly while establishing; deep watering in dry spells thereafter	Pet-safe
Acorn Squash temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Every 2–3 days	Pet-safe
Adriatic Bellflower temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Weekly during spring and summer; minimal in winter	Pet-safe
Adzuki Bean temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Once or twice per week	Pet-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. 2733 plants qualify today.

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

Growli currently lists 2733 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.

More plant shortlists

Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
Best pet-safe low-light plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs AND happy with no direct sun — the two hardest constraints to satisfy at once.
Best plants for cold, dark rooms — Houseplants that cope with BOTH low light and a cool, unheated room — the hardest indoor spot to fill. Every pick tolerates a low of about 10°C and shade.
Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
Best houseplants for beginners — Forgiving of irregular light and watering — the houseplants least likely to die in a new plant parent’s first season.
Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
Best bathroom plants — Humidity-loving houseplants that also cope with lower light — suited to the steamy, often-dim conditions of a typical bathroom.
Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
Best pet-safe bathroom plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in the humid, lower-light conditions of a bathroom — safe greenery for the smallest room.
Best succulents for beginners — The easiest succulents and cacti to keep alive — selected by documented growth habit, each with the light and watering it actually wants.
Best pet-safe succulents — Succulents the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — low-water greenery that is also safe around a curious pet.
Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
Best houseplants to propagate in water — Houseplants that root from a cutting in a glass of water — the easiest, cheapest way to turn one plant into many.
Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
Best fragrant houseplants — Indoor plants with scented flowers or aromatic foliage — greenery you can smell, selected from our care library.
Best pet-safe bedroom plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in lower light — calming greenery for a bedroom where a pet often sleeps too.
Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
Best small pet-safe plants — Compact, tabletop houseplants that are also ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe greenery for a desk or shelf.
Full pet-safe plant library — every plant, ASPCA toxicity status

Care deep-dives gardeners ask for most

Once you have shortlisted a plant, the next questions are watering and soil. These are the guides searched most this season:

Best soil for a peace lily and best soil for a spider plant
Best soil for dracaena (it is fluoride-sensitive) and best soil for hibiscus
How often to water broccoli, how often to water beans, and how often to water okra
Browse every watering guide and soil & potting-mix guide