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Pet-Friendly Plants and Flowers for Dogs and Cats

Posted on by Green Thumb
A collage shows pet-friendly plants and flowers along with a dog and a cat outdoors. The title reads: "Pet-Friendly Plants & Flowers for Your Pet Filled Home.

Written by Kelsey W.

The safest plants for a home with dogs and cats are the ones the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to both species: easygoing houseplants like the spider plant, Boston fern, parlor palm, prayer plant, African violet, and phalaenopsis orchid, plus flowers like roses, petunias, zinnias, and snapdragons, and herbs like basil and rosemary. Just as important is what to keep away from pets. Lilies are the critical one: true lilies and daylilies can cause fatal kidney failure in cats from even a nibble, a little pollen, or a sip of vase water, so they should never come into a home with a cat. Also avoid sago palm, oleander, and common toxic houseplants like pothos, peace lily, and aloe.

Quick answer: For a dog- and cat-safe home, choose ASPCA non-toxic plants such as spider plant, Boston fern, parlor palm, prayer plant, African violet, phalaenopsis orchid, rose, petunia, zinnia, basil, and rosemary. Keep lilies out entirely (they are deadly to cats), and avoid sago palm, oleander, azalea, pothos, peace lily, snake plant, aloe, and tulip or daffodil bulbs. Non-toxic does not mean a pet can eat a plant freely; any plant can cause mild stomach upset. If your pet eats a toxic plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 right away.

Plant Type Safe for dogs and cats
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Houseplant Yes (ASPCA non-toxic)
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) Houseplant Yes
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) Houseplant Yes (a true palm, unlike sago)
Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) Houseplant Yes
Prayer plant / calathea (Calathea insignis) Houseplant Yes
African violet (Saintpaulia) Houseplant Yes
Phalaenopsis (moth) orchid Houseplant Yes
Rose (Rosa) Flower Yes (thorns are physical, not toxic)
Petunia Flower Yes
Zinnia Flower Yes
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) Flower Yes
Camellia (Camellia japonica) Flower Yes
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Herb Yes
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Herb Yes

The Best Pet-Safe Plants and Flowers

For indoor greenery, several houseplants are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to both dogs and cats. The spider plant is the classic easy, forgiving pick,[1] and the Boston fern is a lush, pet-safe choice for a bright bathroom or hanging basket.[2] For a safe palm, choose a parlor palm, which is a true palm (the lookalike sago palm is not a palm at all and is highly toxic).[3] The prayer plant (calathea),[4] African violet,[5] and phalaenopsis orchid round out a set of colorful, pet-safe indoor plants.[6]

Out in the garden or a vase, plenty of flowers are pet-safe too. Roses are non-toxic (the only hazard is the thorns, which are a physical scratch risk, not a poison),[7] as are petunias,[8] heat-loving zinnias,[9] snapdragons,[10] and the winter-blooming camellia that does so well here.[11] Even kitchen herbs are safe: basil[12] and rosemary are both non-toxic to dogs and cats.[13] For more pet-safe greenery, see our guide to pet-safe houseplants and our picks for dog-friendly flowers.

Toxic Plants to Keep Away From Pets

The single most important warning for cat owners is about lilies. True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are not toxic to dogs, but they cause acute, often fatal kidney failure in cats, and the ASPCA warns that eating even a small piece, licking pollen off their fur, or drinking water from a vase that held lilies can be deadly to a cat.[14] The Pet Poison Helpline is just as blunt, noting that all parts of a true lily, including leaf, stem, flower, pollen, vase water, and root, are toxic to cats.[15] Symptoms can take a couple of days to appear, so a lily is one plant that should simply never enter a home with a cat, cut flowers included.[16]

A few other plants can be fatal and are worth knowing by name. The sago palm causes liver failure and is often deadly,[17] oleander (a very common Southern California hedge) contains cardiac toxins and can be fatal,[18] and azaleas and rhododendrons can cause vomiting, weakness, and heart problems.[19]

Many popular houseplants are toxic too, usually causing painful mouth irritation and stomach upset rather than death, but still worth keeping out of reach: pothos,[20] the peace lily (which is not a true lily but irritates the mouth with calcium oxalate crystals),[21] snake plant (Sansevieria, now Dracaena trifasciata),[22] and aloe,[23] along with philodendron, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), ZZ plant, jade, dracaena, and English ivy. Finally, spring bulbs are a hazard for dogs that dig: daffodil, tulip, and amaryllis bulbs are all toxic, with the bulb itself the most dangerous part.[24]

Even Safe Plants: What to Know

Non-toxic does not mean a pet can graze freely. The ASPCA still notes mild stomach signs for some non-toxic plants; the polka dot plant, for example, is listed as non-toxic yet can cause mild vomiting or diarrhea if a pet eats a lot of it.[25] So even with a safe plant, it is smart to discourage heavy nibbling. If all of your pets live strictly indoors, you have more freedom with outdoor landscaping, since an indoor cat will not reach an oleander hedge, but remember two things: a cut-lily bouquet brought inside is the classic way an indoor cat is poisoned, and dogs plus any cat with yard access can still reach outdoor plants.

If you think your pet has eaten a toxic plant, do not wait for symptoms. Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 right away; both run around the clock.[26] With lilies and cats especially, fast treatment is critical, so call immediately rather than watching and waiting.

Want help choosing plants that are safe for your dogs and cats? Visit any Green Thumb Nursery location and our team can point you to pet-safe houseplants, flowers, and herbs, and steer you away from the toxic ones. For more, see our guide to helping pets and plants safely coexist.

Pet-Safe Plants FAQ

What plants are safe for dogs and cats?

Plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to both dogs and cats include the spider plant, Boston fern, parlor palm, prayer plant, African violet, and phalaenopsis orchid, plus roses, petunias, zinnias, basil, and rosemary.[1]

What is the best pet-friendly houseplant?

The spider plant is a top choice: it is ASPCA non-toxic to dogs and cats, tolerant of a wide range of light, and very easy to grow, which makes it a great first houseplant for a pet home.[1]

Are lilies poisonous to cats?

Yes, dangerously so. True lilies and daylilies cause acute, often fatal kidney failure in cats, and even a nibble of leaf, a bit of pollen, or water from a lily vase can poison a cat. Lilies should never be in a home with cats. They are not toxic to dogs.[14]

What flowers are safe for dogs?

Roses, petunias, zinnias, snapdragons, and camellias are all listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic. For a dog-friendly cut arrangement, these are safe picks; just skip lilies, which are a cat hazard.[7]

What should I do if my pet eats a toxic plant?

Call for help immediately rather than waiting for symptoms: your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. With lilies and cats, treatment delayed too long is often fatal.[26]

Sources

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