These Houseplants Are Beautiful and Safe for Your Animals

Posted by Calvin on April 09, 2024

You’re already a great guardian for your animal companion(s), and now you’re ready to be a plant parent, too. 🌹🌵🌻 Keeping plants in your home can really make the whole place pop, and it’s a super-satisfying hobby. Here’s the thing, tho: Some houseplants are toxic for your animal companions, so always check before buying a new plant. Choose from this list of beautiful houseplants that are safe to have around your animals. 🐶🐱❤️

ANIMAL-FRIENDLY HOUSEPLANTS

1. Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)

Sad name, awesome plant. 😅 If you have one, make sure it’s only exposed to partial sunlight and shade. That way, it’ll reward you with bright green or yellow leaves.

2. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

This popular, low-maintenance houseplant can grow up to seven feet tall, so make sure you have the space for this lanky boy.

3. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

Know how this plant got its name? 🤔 Its leaves tend to lie flat during the day and fold at night as if they’re praying. 🙏

4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

These are low-key the ultimate houseplants—they don’t need much sunlight and are green year-round.

5. Hens and Chicks Plant (Sempervivum tectorum)

Not only is this plant safe for animals—it’s also named after animals. It has mother rosettes (“hens”) that spread in all directions to form offsets (“chicks”). 🐔🐥

6. Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Who wouldn’t want a plant covered in pink or white polka dots? 🤷 It’ll stay small when mature, too—just make sure it gets partial sunlight.

7. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Want to give your cat the gift they deserve? It doesn’t get much better than growing their fave treat. 😻

8. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

As the stem gets older, it sprouts rosettes of long, rugged leaves. As long as you don’t overwater it, this one’s great for plant beginners.

9. Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

Native to southern China, this plant has shiny dark green leaves shaped like coins. 💰

10. Orchids (Orchidaceae)

Orchids are absolutely gorg and come in pink, purple, blue, and other vivid colors. 👌

11. Zebra Plant (Haworthiopsis fasciata)

Based on this plant’s white stripes, it’s not hard to see how it got its name. 🦓

12. Edible Plants (Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Etc.)

Herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill are delish for us and safe for our animal companions. 🥰

FIVE TOXIC HOUSEPLANTS

These plants are not safe for animals, so be sure to take the needed precautions.

1. Mistletoe (Viscaceae)

If your animal eats even one or two mistletoe berries, it can kill them. 😨 Keep mistletoe out of your holiday decor, and follow these other tips to keep your animals safe during the holidays:

2. Aloe Vera (Aloe vera)

Aloe vera is medicinal for humans, but don’t let your animal companions eat it—it can give them an upset stomach. 😫

3. Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x grandiflorum)

The flowers of chrysanthemums (mums) are toxic. If your animal companion eats the flowers, they can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of coordination.

4. Lilies (Lilium)

This is important af—all parts of lilies are toxic to cats and will cause kidney failure. 😱 Lilies are also toxic to dogs, so you should skip buying this plant.

5. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos plants are poisonous to animals—they can make their oral tissues swell, cause them to vomit, and give them diarrhea and stomach irritation.

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Looking for more animal-friendly hobbies? Try your hand at baking vegan goodies with the help of these young pastry chefs: