10 Toxic Houseplants Pet Owners Should Avoid

If your household boasts pets and houseplants as members, you need to know that not all houseplants are created equal: There are pet-friendly houseplants and toxic houseplants. Unfortunately, many popular houseplants are poisonous to cats and dogs if they take a nibble or, in some cases, merely touch the foliage.

We honed in on the most poisonous houseplants to help you keep your pets safe in a plant-filled home. Read on to see which houseplants pet owners should avoid and our suggestions for plants that are safe for cats and dogs. We're also sharing tips to maintain peaceful coexistence between your pets and your houseplants.

Poisonous Houseplants for Cats and Dogs (and Pet-Friendly Plant Replacements)

If you're a pet owner and have any toxic houseplants listed here, consider swapping them out for pet-safe options. And for those shopping for more greenery, selecting pet-friendly houseplants is a smart precaution to take.

01 of 10

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera plants may be healing for humans, but if cats and dogs chew on the leaves, they can develop lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the ASPCA.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Haworthia

A member of the succulent family, haworthia is a small, low-growing plant that has distinctive studded white bands on its leaves. These plants do well in bright light and moist conditions with plenty of soil drainage. Its shape and size resembles aloe, but is safe for cats and dogs.

02 of 10

Clivia

Clivia plants feature bright tropical flowers, but the blooms as well as the rest of the plant contain lycorine, a chemical that can cause nausea and diarrhea in pets.

Pet-Safe Replacement: African Violet

Saintpaulia, more commonly known as African violet, has fuzzy green leaves and stunning year-round flowers that bloom in lavenders, blues, pinks, reds, and white. Its leaves and flowers are non-toxic to cats and dogs, making them perfect for those looking for a low-maintenance, blooming plant.

03 of 10

Asparagus Fern

The asparagus fern can cause allergic dermatitis (and plenty of itching) if it's touched, and its berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea if they're eaten.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Popular for their frilly green leaves, Boston ferns are a classic beauty that add charm to any room. These plants do best in a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. Among the easiest types of ferns to care for, they're also safe for pets.

04 of 10

Monstera

Monstera—also called Swiss cheese plants, for obvious reasons—are popular with plant parents, but these tropical beauties aren't great for pets. They contain calcium oxalates, which can cause intense burning around the lips, tongue, and mouth, and trouble breathing.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

With fiery blooms in the dead of winter, Christmas cacti are a lovely addition to any home. These plants require little care and readily adapt to low-light conditions. One of several easily propagated succulents, it's non-toxic to animals, so cut and replant until there's one in every room.

05 of 10

Corn Plant

Also known as dracaena and dragon tree. corn plants contain saponins, which can cause vomiting, dilated pupils, hypersalivation, and anorexia in pets.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Staghorn Fern (Platycerium)

A type of air plant, staghorn ferns grow best when mounted on a board and hung on a wall to allow for an exchange of air and moisture. Resembling the antlers of a staghorn deer, these pet-safe plants have gained popularity as living works of art.

06 of 10

Sago Palm

Sago palms are definitely among the do-not-have plants if you have pets. They contain cycasin, which can cause vomiting, liver damage or failure, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and death.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

As its name implies, the parlor palm is the quintessential houseplant because, unlike many types of palms, it can handle low light and lower temperatures. It grows in clusters with its elegantly arching, green leaflets forming a feathery canopy. This attractive plant is non-toxic and an excellent air purifier.

07 of 10

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are one of the most infamous plants for pet owners. Like many on this list, it contains calcium oxalates, which can cause difficulty swallowing, as well as burning and irritation in the mouth and tongue.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus)

Adding tropical flair to your home is a breeze with the simple addition of a hibiscus plant, which thrives in direct light and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees F. Though tricky to care for when grown outside temperate climates, once you get the hang of it, you'll be rewarded with spectacularly brilliant, pet-friendly blooms.

08 of 10

Pothos

The popular pothos plant is a great easy-care option for plant parents, but you'll want to keep your pets—especially cats—clear of it. It's poisonous due to calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth and cause drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Low-Light Plant, Spider Plant — Lucian Alexe on Unsplash

With gracefully trailing grass-like leaves, spider plants are markedly hardy plants that can grow in a wide range of conditions. This plant is perfect for hanging, as it sprouts smaller spiderettes—which drape down from the mother plant as if on a web—that are safe for a curious cat or dog.

09 of 10

Jade Plant

This popular succulent can cause vomiting, depression, and incoordination in pets, according to the ASPCA.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

Well-known for its carnivorous nature, the Venus fly trap is a strangely beautiful plant lined with eyelash-like teeth that lace together when triggered by prey. Native to swamplands of the Carolinas, the Venus fly trap does well in bright light and humid conditions. While lethal to gnats and small insects, this captivating plant is completely safe for pets.

10 of 10

Amaryllis

These holiday favorites contain lycorine and other harmful chemicals, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors in pets.

Pet-Safe Replacement: Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)

Grown for their distinctive glossy green leaves and wonderfully fragrant flowers, wax plants can tolerate very dry conditions, making them perfect for growing indoors. Their star-shaped flowers grow in waxy-looking clusters ranging from pink to white. With blooms that produce sweet-smelling nectar, it's a good thing these plants are non-toxic.

How to Keep Pets and Plants Safe

Convincing your pets and houseplants to live in harmony can be a challenge. As well-behaved as Fluffy may be, turn your head and you're likely to find her taking a bite or scratching the soil of your beloved houseplant.

Even "safe" plants can make your pets sick if they eat too much of them. Of course, that's not too great for the plant, either. To help your plants and pets successfully cohabitate, try these tips:

Keep unsafe plants in off-limits spaces. If you're keeping toxic plants, put them in areas closed off from your pets or make them unreachable, such as on high shelves on a bookshelf, or in a bathroom or spare bedroom that's kept shut.
Ensure pets are safe when they're unsupervised. Crating or blocking your pets from areas with plants can help ensure they can't eat them when you're not around.
Cover the soil. If your pets are diggers, keep them from tearing up the soil by covering the soil with shells, pebbles, tin foil, or other materials that won't feel good under their paws.
Offer alternatives to dig or chew. Make plants less enticing by offering pets alternative spots where they can scratch or chew, like chew toys, scratching posts, or even a "digging spot" in the garden.
Use spray deterrents. Applying a no-chew spray—like bitter apple or diluted lemon juice—helps to deter pets from chomping on delicate leaves.

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