Pet-Friendly (and Not) Houseplants
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If you have or want to add houseplants to your home, but you’re thinking about adopting a new dog or you already have a very curious cat, Joy, our houseplant guru here at The Gardener’s Center, wants to share which popular houseplants are pet friendly. And which ones are not.
By the way, this list is confirmed on the ASPCA website, so we’re all on the same page.
Pet-Friendly Plants
- The Calathea family is all pet friendly. And don’t you love the beautiful variegation on those leaves?
- Maranta, a Calathea cousin, also known as a prayer plant is pet friendly.
- Ponytail Palms are pet friendly. In fact, the kitties at The Gardener’s Center have been known to chew some of the leaves… But don’t tell anyone!
- Hoyas—which are flowering plants—are pet friendly.
- Spider plants with all their babies are pet friendly as well.
- Cast Iron plants — also pet-friendly.
Not-So-Pet-Friendly Plants
- Sago Palm… It’s one of the most non-friendly for pets. While it’s beautiful, your fur babies won’t be happy if they chew on it.
- Spathiphyllum or Peace Lily
- Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane
- Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen
- Pothos or Devil’s Ivy
- Sansevieria or Snake Plant
What Happens if Your Pet Chews on a Non-Friendly Plant?
While reactions vary with the plants, things to watch for include vomiting, salivating and diarrhea.
The best advice is that if you see your dog or cat chewing on a plant, make a quick call to your pet’s veterinarian or the 24-hour Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 just to be on the safe side.
AND many plants aren’t just unfriendly to pets, they’re unfriendly to humans, so don’t let your kids chew on these plants either!
Let’s keep all our family members and friends—furry or not—safe, happy and healthy!