Pet safety

Pet-safe plants: is it toxic to cats & dogs?

Check any plant against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic list before it comes home. Or take the plant-matcher quiz with “pets” selected for a pet-safe shortlist.

Pets explore with their mouths, and a houseplant on a low shelf is fair game. The list below mirrors the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Tap any plant for the full pet-safety guide — symptoms, what to do if it is eaten, and (for toxic species) non-toxic alternatives with the same look. Building something? Grab the full open pet-toxicity dataset (CC-BY) — the same data this page is built from.

Which plants are toxic to cats and dogs?

Of the 10153 plants Growli checks against the ASPCA list, 2653 are toxic to cats and dogs and 3145 are mildly toxic. The most dangerous — and most-searched — are lilies (especially lethal to cats), sago palm, oleander, dieffenbachia, and autumn crocus, plus the calcium-oxalate aroids: pothos, philodendron, peace lily, monstera, and ZZ plant. The full list, each linking to its ASPCA verdict, symptoms, and pet-safe alternatives, is grouped by severity below.

Most-checked pet-safety verdicts

The plants people look up most before buying — straight to the ASPCA verdict.

4355Non-toxic to cats and dogs

ASPCA-listed as non-toxic. The safest picks for a home with pets — though no plant is meant to be a snack.

3145Mildly toxic — keep out of reach

Rarely serious, but chewing causes real discomfort (usually mouth irritation, drooling, or vomiting). Best placed where pets cannot reach.

2653Toxic — keep away from pets

Can cause significant reactions if eaten. Keep these out of any pet's reach entirely, and see each page for safe alternatives.

Pet-safe plants — frequently asked questions

How many houseplants are non-toxic to cats and dogs?

Growli classifies 10153 common plants against the ASPCA list: 4355 are non-toxic to cats and dogs, 3145 are mildly toxic, and 2653 are toxic. The non-toxic group includes spider plant, calathea, parlor palm, peperomia, and most true ferns — browse the full list above.

What are the most common plants toxic to cats and dogs?

The most frequently flagged on the ASPCA list include lilies (especially dangerous to cats), sago palm, oleander, dieffenbachia, and aroids such as pothos, philodendron, and peace lily. They are grouped by severity above, each linking to its symptoms and first-aid steps.

What is the difference between toxic and mildly toxic?

Both ratings follow the ASPCA. "Toxic" means ingestion can cause a significant reaction and the plant should be kept entirely out of reach. "Mildly toxic" plants — often those with insoluble calcium oxalates, like many aroids — usually cause short-lived mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than an emergency, but are still best placed where pets cannot chew them.

Is the ASPCA list reliable for the UK?

The ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List is the most widely used companion-animal reference, and UK vets generally rely on the same classifications. Growli serves both en-US and en-GB readers from this single ASPCA-sourced dataset.

What should I do if my pet ate a plant?

Remove any plant material from your pet’s mouth and take the plant away, note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice.

Are non-toxic plants completely safe for pets to eat?

Non-toxic per the ASPCA means it will not poison a pet, but no plant is food: large amounts of any foliage can cause mild, short-lived stomach upset. Persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, or lethargy after eating any plant always warrants a vet call.