Best plants

Pet-safe low-light plants

Low-light plant picks with generally safe cat and dog verdicts.

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Pick 1

American Linden

Tilia americana

Amazon

The American Linden is a large, deciduous shade tree known for its fragrant flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It is considered safe for pets, though ingestion of large amounts of plant material may cause minor digestive discomfort.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 2

Amur Maple

Acer ginnala

Amazon

The Amur Maple is a hardy, deciduous shrub or small tree known for its vibrant autumn foliage and fragrant spring flowers. It is considered non-toxic to pets, though ingestion of large amounts of fibrous plant material may occasionally cause mild digestive discomfort.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 3

Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus umbellata

Amazon

Autumn Olive is a hardy, deciduous shrub known for its silvery foliage and edible berries. It is considered non-toxic to pets, though large ingestions of fibrous plant material may occasionally cause minor digestive discomfort.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 4

Baby's Breath

Gypsophila elegans

Amazon

Baby's Breath is a popular ornamental plant known for its delicate, cloud-like clusters of small white or pink flowers. While generally considered safe, it is best kept out of reach to prevent accidental ingestion of fibrous plant material.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 5

Bamboo Vine

Smilax laurifolia

Amazon

Smilax laurifolia is a woody, climbing vine known for its tough, leathery leaves and thorny stems. While generally considered safe for pets, its fibrous nature can occasionally cause minor digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 6

Bitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformis

Amazon

The Bitternut Hickory is a deciduous tree known for its distinctively bitter nuts and compound leaves. While generally considered safe for pets, the fibrous nature of the plant material can occasionally cause mild digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 7

Black Haw

Viburnum lentago

Amazon

Black Haw is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its clusters of white flowers and dark, edible berries. It is widely considered safe for household pets, though its fibrous nature may cause minor digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 8

Black Hawthorn

Crataegus douglasii

Amazon

Crataegus douglasii is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its dark, edible berries and thorny branches. It is generally considered safe for household pets, though its physical structure requires caution.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 9

Bristly Greenbrier

Smilax hispida

Amazon

Bristly Greenbrier is a woody, climbing vine native to North America, often found in thickets and woodlands. It is considered non-toxic to pets, though its fibrous nature may cause minor digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 10

Bullbrier

Smilax rotundifolia

Amazon

Bullbrier is a hardy, woody vine native to North America, often recognized by its prickly stems and rounded leaves. It is considered non-toxic to pets, though its fibrous nature may cause minor digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 11

Butterfly Ginger

Hedychium coronarium

Amazon

Butterfly Ginger is a fragrant, rhizomatous perennial known for its showy, orchid-like white flowers. It is considered non-toxic to pets, though its fibrous nature may cause minor digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Pick 12

Button Fern

Pellaea rotundifolia

Amazon

The Button Fern is a charming, compact fern known for its small, round, dark green leaflets arranged along wiry stems. It thrives in humid, shaded environments and is a popular choice for terrariums and indoor containers.

Generally safeGenerally safe

Safety verdicts verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

Comparison table

PlantLightCareSizeHabitCatsDogs
American LindenFull sun to partial shadeLowLarge (50-80 feet)Upright, spreading treeGenerally safeGenerally safe
Amur MapleFull sun to partial shadeLow15-20 feet tallShrub or small treeGenerally safeGenerally safe
Autumn OliveFull sun to partial shadeLowLarge (up to 15-20 feet)ShrubGenerally safeGenerally safe
Baby's BreathFull sun to partial shadeLow12 to 24 inches tallUpright, branchingGenerally safeGenerally safe
Bamboo VineFull sun to partial shadeLowLarge, aggressive climberVining, climbingGenerally safeGenerally safe
Bitternut HickoryFull sun to partial shadeLowLarge (up to 100 feet)Deciduous treeGenerally safeGenerally safe
Black HawFull sun to partial shadeLow10-20 feet tallShrub or small treeGenerally safeGenerally safe
Black HawthornFull sun to partial shadeLow10-30 feetShrub or small treeGenerally safeGenerally safe
Bristly GreenbrierPartial shade to full sunLowLargeClimbing vineGenerally safeGenerally safe
BullbrierFull sun to partial shadeLowLargeViningGenerally safeGenerally safe
Butterfly GingerBright indirect light to partial shadeModerate3 to 6 feet tallRhizomatous perennialGenerally safeGenerally safe
Button FernIndirect, low to medium lightModerateSmall, typically under 12 inchesClumping, spreadingGenerally safeGenerally safe