Pet safety
3ASPCA non-toxic look-alikes — a similar plant, safe for cats & dogs.
String of pearls is listed as toxic to pets to cats and dogs on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Each plant below is ASPCA non-toxic and chosen to echo String of pearls's look, habit, or growing conditions — tap through to its full pet-safety and care guides before you buy. Prefer to keep String of pearls? See its full toxicity detail and symptoms.
Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) is the closest pet-safe look-alike: a trailing succulent that packs plump bead-like fleshy leaves densely along dangling strands, mirroring the cascading strands and succulent aesthetic of string of pearls in the same hanging-basket or shelf placement.
Shared with string of pearls: trailing succulent, fleshy bead-like leaves on dangling strands, bright light + dry air, sparse watering, hanging-basket/shelf use, ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs
String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is the directly analogous 'string of...' trailing African succulent, with leaves strung along thread-thin cascading stems for the same shelf, macrame, or hanging display and the same dry-tolerant succulent care.
Shared with string of pearls: trailing succulent vine, strung leaves on thin cascading stems, dry-tolerant succulent care, hanging/macrame use, ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is a pet-safe trailing, arching plant that cascades from a hanging basket like string of pearls and adds winter blooms — a sound trailing-habit substitute for pet households, though its flattened segmented stems are not a true visual match for the spherical pearls.
Shared with string of pearls: trailing/arching habit, cascading hanging-basket display, bright-indirect light, succulent-adjacent care, ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs
Yes. The ASPCA lists String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus)) as toxic to pets to cats and dogs. Treat string of pearls as toxic to cats and dogs. It is not on the ASPCA's formal toxic-plant list, but the ASPCA's succulent-safety guidance says that if ingested it causes stomach upset — predominantly vomiting — and lethargy; the irritant sap can also inflame skin and eyes on contact. The exact toxic compound is unconfirmed (suspected alkaloids), so keep strands out of reach and call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) if a pet chews it. If you keep it, site it well out of reach; otherwise the non-toxic alternatives below give a similar look without the risk.
Burro's tail is the closest pet-safe swap — Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) is the closest pet-safe look-alike: a trailing succulent that packs plump bead-like fleshy leaves densely along dangling strands, mirroring the cascading strands and succulent aesthetic of string of pearls in the same hanging-basket or shelf placement. For a full set of options, every plant on this page is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Yes — each alternative is classified by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and every one links to its full ASPCA-sourced pet-safety guide so you can confirm it before you buy. Non-toxic means it will not poison a pet, though no plant is food — large amounts of any foliage can cause mild, brief stomach upset.
Most share String of pearls's light level and growth habit — that is why they read as look-alikes — but care is never identical. Each card notes the shared traits, and every alternative links to its full care guide so you can match it to your space before buying.
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 told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice. A leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.