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Pet-Friendly Houseplants: A Guide to Safe and Healthy Foliage for Your Furry Friends

As a pet owner, you want the best for your furry companion. That includes creating a safe and healthy environment for them to live in. If you're a plant lover, you may be wondering which houseplants are safe for your pet to be around. The good news is that there are many pet-friendly houseplants available.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of choosing pet-friendly houseplants, provide a list of safe and toxic plants, and offer tips on how to care for your plants while keeping your pet safe.

Why Choose Pet-Friendly Houseplants?

There are several reasons why you should choose pet-friendly houseplants for your home:

Safety: Toxic plants can cause serious health problems for pets, including vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, and even death. By choosing pet-friendly plants, you can reduce the risk of your pet ingesting something harmful.
Peace of mind: Knowing that your plants are safe for your pet can give you peace of mind. You won't have to worry about your pet accidentally getting into something that could hurt them.
Aesthetics: Pet-friendly plants can be just as beautiful and decorative as any other type of plant. There is a wide variety of pet-friendly plants available, so you can find ones that fit your home's décor.

List of Pet-Friendly and Toxic Houseplants

The following is a list of common houseplants that are safe for pets:

Plant Name	Common Name
African violet	Saintpaulia
Areca palm	Dypsis lutescens
Bamboo palm	Chamaedorea seifrizii
Bird of paradise	Strelitzia reginae
Boston fern	Nephrolepis exaltata
Bromeliad	Bromeliaceae
Chinese evergreen	Aglaonema
Christmas cactus	Schlumbergera
Corn plant	Dracaena fragrans
Creeping fig	Ficus pumila
Cyclamen	Cyclamen persicum
Fern	Polypodiaceae
Fittonia	Fittonia albivenis
Friendship plant	Pilea involucrata
Gardenia	Gardenia jasminoides
Gerbera daisy	Gerbera jamesonii
Hibiscus	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Jade plant	Crassula ovata
Kangaroo paw	Anigozanthos
Kentia palm	Howea forsteriana
Lady palm	Rhapis excelsa
Lavender	Lavandula
Maranta	Maranta leuconeura
Money tree	Pachira aquatica
Moth orchid	Phalaenopsis
Parlor palm	Chamaedorea elegans
Peace lily	Spathiphyllum
Peperomia	Peperomia
Petunia	Petunia
Phalaenopsis orchid	Phalaenopsis
Philodendron	Philodendron
Prayer plant	Maranta leuconeura
Prune	Prunus
Purple shamrock	Oxalis triangularis
Rex begonia	Begonia rex
Rubber plant	Ficus elastica
Saintpaulia	Saintpaulia
Snake plant	Sansevieria trifasciata
Spider plant	Chlorophytum comosum
Staghorn fern	Platycerium
String of hearts	Ceropegia woodii
Succulents	Crassulaceae
Swedish ivy	Plectranthus verticillatus
ZZ plant	Zamioculcas zamiifolia

The following is a list of common houseplants that are toxic to pets:

Plant Name	Common Name	Symptoms of Ingestion
Aloe vera	Aloe vera	Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy
Amaryllis	Amaryllis	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures
Autumn crocus	Colchicum autumnale	Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, kidney failure
Begonia	Begonia	Skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea
Bird of paradise	Strelitzia reginae	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Bloodroot	Sanguinaria canadensis	Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, death
Calla lily	Zantedeschia aethiopica	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, oral irritation
Castor bean	Ricinus communis	Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, seizures, death
Chrysanthemum	Chrysanthemum	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Colocasia	Colocasia esculenta	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, oral irritation
Daffodil	Narcissus	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures
Dieffenbachia	Dieffenbachia	Swelling of mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea
Foxglove	Digitalis purpurea	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, heart failure
Hemlock	Conium maculatum	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, respiratory failure
Hyacinth	Hyacinthus orientalis	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Hydrangea	Hydrangea macrophylla	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Iris	Iris	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Ivy	Hedera helix	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Jerusalem cherry	Solanum pseudocapsicum	Vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, seizures
Lantana	Lantana camara	Vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure
Lily of the valley	Convallaria majalis	Vomiting, diarrhea, heart problems, seizures
Lupine	Lupinus	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures
Mistletoe	Viscum album	Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, heart failure
Morning glory	Ipomoea	Vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations
Mountain laurel	Kalmia latifolia	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, death
Oleander	Nerium oleander	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, heart failure
Peace lily	Spathiphyllum	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, oral irritation
Philodendron	Philodendron	Swelling of mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea
Poinsettia	Euphorbia pulcherrima	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Potato	Solanum tuberosum	Vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, seizures
Rhododendron	Rhododendron	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, death
Sago palm	Cycas revoluta	Vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure
Snake plant	Sansevieria trifasciata	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Spider plant	Chlorophytum comosum	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Sweet pea	Lathyrus odoratus	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures
Tulip	Tulipa	Vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation
Wisteria	Wisteria sinensis	Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, death

Tips on Caring for Pet-Friendly Houseplants

Here are some tips on how to care for your pet-friendly houseplants while keeping your pet safe:

Keep plants out of reach: Place your plants on high shelves or in hanging baskets where your pet can't reach them.
Choose non-toxic plants: When choosing new plants for your home, opt for pet-friendly varieties.
Label your plants: If you have both pet-friendly and toxic plants in your home, label the toxic plants clearly so that you can keep track of them.
Monitor your pet: Keep an eye on your pet when they are around plants. If you see them chewing on a leaf or stem, remove it immediately and contact your veterinarian.
Clean up spills: If your pet spills water or soil from a plant, clean it up immediately to prevent them from ingesting it.

Stories and What We Learn

Here are three stories about pets and houseplants, and what we can learn from them:

Story 1:

A dog named Max loved to chew on plants. One day, he got into a pot of toxic lilies and ate several leaves. Max became very sick and had to be taken to the veterinarian. He spent several days in the hospital and nearly died.

What we learn: Lilies are highly toxic to pets. Even a small amount of lily can cause serious health problems. If you suspect your pet has eaten lilies, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Story 2:

A cat named Mittens was very curious about her owner's new houseplants. One day, she jumped up on a shelf and knocked over a pot of peace lilies