Pet safety

ASPCA pet-safe plant list: every plant we check

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. Every verdict here is anchored to the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List — directly where the species is listed, and by genus or family inference where it is not, which each plant page states outright. Each group below opens with the 300 plants people look up most; the rest are reachable by genus, by family, or from the full A–Z care library. Tap any plant for the 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 11,687 plants Growli checks against the ASPCA list, 3,028 are toxic to cats and dogs and 3,554 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. Each is covered in full — ASPCA verdict, symptoms, and pet-safe alternatives — and the lists below are grouped by severity.

Pet-safety verdicts at a glance

Six checks people run before buying — each verdict read straight from the ASPCA-sourced dataset this page is built on.

5,105Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Not on the ASPCA's toxic list — either listed as non-toxic or safe by genus inference, and each page says which. The safest picks for a home with pets, though no plant is meant to be a snack. Showing the 300 most looked-up of 5,105 — the rest are one tap away by genus or family.

3,554Mildly toxic — keep out of reach

Rarely serious, but chewing causes real discomfort (usually mouth irritation, drooling, or vomiting). Best placed where pets cannot reach. Showing the 300 most looked-up of 3,554 — the rest are one tap away by genus or family.

3,028Toxic — 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. Showing the 300 most looked-up of 3,028 — the rest are one tap away by genus or family.

Browse every plant by genus or family

The lists above are capped at the 300 most looked-up per rating. For anything else, start with the group it belongs to — each genus hub opens with how many of its species are pet-safe, and each family hub does the same for the whole family.

Aroids Stonecrop succulents Hoyas & relatives Prayer plants Dracaenas, snake plants & spider plants Bromeliads & air plants Cacti African violets & gesneriads Aloes & haworthias Peperomias Begonias Orchids Euphorbias & crotons Carnivorous plants Living stones & mesembs Mint & sage family Rose & orchard family Daisy & aster family Ferns Palms Conifers Heaths, heathers & rhododendrons Buttercup & clematis family Amaryllis & allium family Nightshade family Cycads Ornamental grasses & bamboo Pond & aquarium plants Geraniums & cranesbills Coral bells & saxifrages Cabbage & mustard family Irises & crocuses True lilies & tulips Fuchsias & evening primroses Figs & mulberries Squash, melon & gourd family Hydrangeas & mock oranges Citrus & rue family Pileas & the nettle family Maples & horse chestnuts Spiderworts & inch plants Passionflowers Peas, beans & the legume family Gingers Snapdragons & foxglove relatives Nerve plants & the acanthus family Carrot & parsley family Honeysuckles & viburnums Amaranths, beets & chard Primroses & cyclamen Mallows & hibiscus Bananas & bird-of-paradise Phlox & Jacob’s ladder Bellflowers & lobelias Violets & pansies Grapes & grape ivy Borage & forget-me-nots Pinks & carnations Morning glories & sweet potato vine

Browse all 551 genera →

Still nothing? The full A–Z care library lists all 11,687 plants by name, and every care page links to its own pet-safety verdict.

Pet-safe plants — frequently asked questions

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

Growli classifies 11,687 common plants against the ASPCA list: 5,105 are non-toxic to cats and dogs, 3,554 are mildly toxic, and 3,028 are toxic. The non-toxic group includes spider plant, calathea, parlor palm, peperomia, and most true ferns — browse the most-searched of each group above, or by genus and family below.

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. Each has its own page with the ASPCA verdict, 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 — that is where the insoluble-calcium-oxalate aroids sit: pothos, philodendron, peace lily, monstera and ZZ plant are all rated toxic, not mild. "Mildly toxic" covers plants that usually cause short-lived mouth irritation, drooling, or stomach upset 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 in the US, or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 in the UK 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.