Non-Toxic House Plants That Are Safe For Pets
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Written By: Suzanne Kvilhaug
Nobody wants to be the person who brings home a plant that ends up getting their pet sick. Talk about throwing on a dunce cap! Plants decorate homes, help clean the air and make people happy while relieving anxiety and lowering stress levels. Unless of course, they’re toxic to Fido and Fluffy. If you’re looking to spruce up your home with some greenery that’s pet friendly, here are 5 popular houseplants that are safe for your pets:
Bamboo Palm
If you want to add a tropical feel to your home, this is your plant. Bamboo palm plants can grow up to 6 feet tall, they’re low-maintenance, thrive in low light, and easily tolerate the warm and cool air conditions inside. If those aren’t enough selling points, these plants improve the air quality by filtering the indoor air of toxins such as nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde.
Orchid
Who doesn’t love an orchid inside a home? The fake ones do fake me out sometimes yet there is nothing like a real orchid. And your furry friends will not be harmed if they can’t resist them either. Orchids are effective at removing xylene from the air and releasing oxygen at night, making them an ideal bedroom plant. One reason people may be apprehensive to buy orchids is because they have a reputation of being hard to take care of. If that’s holding you back, here’s how to make orchids last.
Blue Echeveria
Succulents can sort of look intimidating if you’re not familiar with them and seem as if they may be hazardous to pets. Not the blue echeveria! Blue echeverias are rose-shaped succulents that are easy to care for and drought-resistant. Succulents make such popular houseplants because of their hardiness, ability to grow in a wide variety of climates and their ability to remove many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.
Wax plant
Usually known as a Hoya plant, they are considered easy indoor plants that can last for decades with little care. This unique houseplant is a vine that has thick, waxy leaves and clusters of star-shaped waxy flowers. Hoya plants are popular houseplants in moderate temperate regions because of their beauty and strong aromatic flowers.
African violet
Looking for something colorful that’s not too difficult to maintain? African violet plants are popular indoor plants that detoxify the air and with the right care, can bloom nonstop. When compared to some flowering houseplants, African violets are a great place to start for beginners. They’re easy on the eyes and won’t make you go crazy learning how to properly care for them.
The Sill has a complete and shoppable list of pet-friendly plants.
Stay away from these houseplants that are NOT safe for dogs and cats.
Aluminum Plant
Aloe
Areca Palm
Bird of Paradise Plant
Castor Bean
Cassula Ovata (or Jade)
Chrysanthemum
English Ivy
Hedra Helix (or Ivy)
Peace Lily (all lilies are poisonous)
The ASPCA has a complete list of poisonous plants to stay away from.