Best plants

Non-toxic houseplants for new pet owners

Beginner-friendly houseplants with generally safe cat and dog verdicts.

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Pick 1

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum

Common arching houseplant frequently used as a safer-looking substitute for more irritating trailing vines.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Pick 2

Chinese Money Plant

Pilea peperomioides

Compact coin-leaved houseplant also marketed as 'money plant'; not classified as toxic to cats or dogs.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Pick 3

Parlor Palm

Chamaedorea elegans

Compact true palm often suggested as a pet-safe substitute for sago palm in homes with cats and dogs.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Pick 4

Ponytail Palm

Beaucarnea recurvata

Not a true palm but an Agavaceae succulent commonly sold in pet-safe plant roundups; low-risk profile for cats and dogs.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Pick 5

Baby Rubber Plant

Peperomia obtusifolia

Compact succulent-like houseplant sold as baby rubber plant; unrelated to Ficus elastica and listed as non-toxic for cats and dogs.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Pick 6

Zebra Haworthia

Haworthiopsis attenuata

Small rosette succulent commonly confused with aloe; widely listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Pick 7

Elephant Bush

Portulacaria afra

Succulent shrub commonly sold as 'mini jade' but a distinct species with a much safer toxicology profile than true jade.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Comparison table

PlantLightCareSizeHabitCatsDogs
Spider Plantmedium to bright indirecteasysmall to mediumarching clumpGenerally safeGenerally safe
Chinese Money Plantmedium indirecteasysmallupright clumpGenerally safeGenerally safe
Parlor Palmlow to medium indirecteasysmall to mediumclumping palmGenerally safeGenerally safe
Ponytail Palmbright indirect to suneasymediumswollen-trunk rosetteGenerally safeGenerally safe
Baby Rubber Plantmedium indirecteasysmallupright clumpGenerally safeGenerally safe
Zebra Haworthiabright indirecteasysmallrosette succulentGenerally safeGenerally safe
Elephant Bushbright indirect to suneasysmall to mediumshrubby succulentGenerally safeGenerally safe