Palms — Arecaceae

Most palms are pet-safe. Of the 160 palms we cover, 120 are non-toxic on the ASPCA list and 40 carry a toxic or mildly-toxic rating. Even in a mostly-safe family, confirm the individual species before trusting it around pets.

Most palms want bright, indirect light — 63 of the 160 in our library do best there. If yours stretches toward the window or loses its variegation it needs more light; scorched or bleached leaves mean it is getting too much.

Palms are moderate to grow: the one real requirement is a genuinely bright spot out of harsh midday sun. Get the light right and most of the rest of their care follows.

The Arecaceae family — the palms — groups 160 species across 26 genera in the Growli library, most prominently Chamaedorea, Dypsis, Trachycarpus. Members share a broadly similar light, water and soil pattern, which is why it pays to learn the family before the individual plant.