Are you a houseplant enthusiast looking forward to having safe plants for pets? We have prepared a list of some non-toxic, Low Light Indoor Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs, approved by ASPCA. Give your interior a touch of green with these houseplants, and stay assured of your pets!

Check out our article on plants that dogs love to eat here

Low Light Indoor Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs!

1. Ponytail Palm

Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvata

Offering the appearance of a palm tree, the ponytail plant is an ornamental houseplant, which is highly drought-tolerant. It grows slowly and doesn’t need much care. This is a must-have houseplant for most pet lovers.

2. Spider Plant

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum

The spider plant is an easy to grow, adaptable plant. It also has an air-purifying ability, helping to remove formaldehyde and xylene from indoor air. So, you must consider growing this non-toxic, low-light plant in your home, especially if you have a cat.

3. Cast Iron Plant

Botanical Name: Aspidistra elatior

Reaching up to the height of 2-3 feet, the cast iron plant has lush green foliage, which gives it a stunning look. It is a slow grower, surviving in extreme conditions; as a result, making it a popular house plant for busy people.

4. Prayer Plant

Botanical Name: Maranta leuconeura

Prayer plant has glossy, dark-green foliage, with red veins on its leaf. It grows up to 10-12 inches and has a horizontal growth habit. It’s safe for your pets if they accidentally bite it.

Discover some of the best prayer plant varieties here

5. Zebra Calathea

Botanical Name: Calathea zebrina

Calatheas can brighten up any space with their bicolor-green foliage and silver brushmarks. It grows up to 3 feet in height and is completely safe for your pets.

See more zebra pattern houseplants here

6. Boston Fern

Botanical Name: Nephrolepis exaltata

The beautiful Boston ferns are famous for their stunning foliage. Their dangling fronds also make them great for window boxes or hanging baskets. If you have pets, then don’t worry; it is a non-toxic plant.

7. Fittonia

Botanical Name: Fittonia albivenis

Fittonia is a low-growing creeper with red veins on its leaves. It has bright green leaves with silver linings all across its foliage. It grows up to 10-12 inches tall and is a pet-friendly houseplant.

8. Parlor Palm

Botanical Name: Chamaedorea elegans

Downward arching, green fronds of parlor palm makes it perfect for offices and homes. This tall houseplant has excellent air-purifying capabilities, too, and is safe for cats and dogs!

9. Gloxinia

Botanical Name: Sinningia speciosa

With trumpet-shaped flowers of brilliant hues like crimson, violet, and white over its velvety foliage, gloxinia is a must-have indoor plant if you love flowering houseplants. It attains a height of 6-12 inches, and even if you have a curious dog in your home, you can safely keep it.

10. Baby Rubber Plant

Botanical Name: Peperomia obtusifolia

While ficus elastica (the original rubber plant is slightly toxic to pets), this one is not. It does not require much attention, and that’s the reason many houseplant enthusiasts prefer it. Its fleshy stems store water and do not demand frequent watering.

11. Wax Plant

Botanical Name: Hoya carnosa

Usually grown in pots and hanging baskets, the wax plant is a very common houseplant with waxy foliage. Also, you guessed right: it is safe for your pets.

12. Peacock Plant

Botanical Name: Calathea makoyana

With eye-catching glossy foliage accompanied by dark-green blotches along the veins, it resembles peacock’s feathers, hence the name. Like the prayer plant, it is also non-toxic for cats and dogs.

13. Moth Orchid

Botanical Name: Phalaenopsis

Long-lasting and fragrant flowers of moth orchid will elevate your mood with its outstanding aroma. It is typically a foot tall and pet-friendly.

14. Staghorn Fern

Botanical Name: Platycerium

Belonging to the polypod family, staghorn fern has unique fronds. Its flat leaves overlap over each other to offer stability to its ferns. Also, this plant is completely safe for your pets.

15. Bromeliads

Botanical Name: Bromeliaceae

Bromeliads will provide an exotic touch to the interior of your home with their showy red and yellow flowers over contrasting green foliage.

16. Zebra Plant

Botanical Name: Aphelandra squarrosa

With stripes of green and cream colors over its waxy foliage, it resembles the ones on a zebra, hence the name. Rarely exceeding the height of 12-inches, it is a beautiful, pet-friendly indoor plant!

17. Burro’s Tail

Botanical Name: Sedum morganianum

With fleshy blue-green fat leaves and dangling stems, this succulent looks very special. And the best thing about this is–it’s safe for cats and dogs, both.

18. Pearl Plant

Botanical Name: Tulista pumila

This hardy, succulent plant, with pearl-like tubercles over its fleshy, blue-green leaves, looks stunning in any succulent collection. Like other plants on this list, it is safe for cats and dogs.

19. African Violet

Botanical Name: Saintpaulia

A striking option for pet owners, the African Violet is a great addition to your home. Always ensure it is not near a drafty window or vent.

Check out our article on growing African Violets indoors here

20. Polka Dot

Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya

When kept indoors, it grows up to a foot tall and makes a great addition to your indoor garden and for your pets. Keep it near an east-facing window for best growth.

21. Watermelon Peperomia

Botanical Name: Peperomia argyreia

This plant gets the most love for its beautiful watermelon-like foliage. It is safe around pets and can be kept out of direct sunlight.

Here’s all you need to know about growing Watermelon Peperomia

22. Pilea Silver Sparkle

Botanical Name: Pilea Glauca

In addition to being a pet-friendly plant, this is also a good choice for those who are just starting to grow indoor plants. Choose a location near a window with filtered light and always keep the soil moist so it can thrive.

23. Friendship Plant

Botanical Name: Pilea involucrata

The Friendship plant is adorned with intricately patterned leaves that are soft to touch and completely harmless to your pets.

24. Areca Palm

Botanical Name: Dypsis lutescens

Want to impress your guests while also keeping your pets safe? Then, Areca Palm is the way to go! Also known as a butterfly palm, it grows up to 4-6 feet tall with big and beautiful fronds.

25. Haworthia

Botanical Name: Haworthia

If you are looking for a safer substitute than the Aloe Vera plant, the Hawthoria is your best best. Very similar to a succulent, all varieties in this genus are safe for cats and dogs. Plus, they are low-maintenance and require some indirect light.

26. Swedish Ivy

Botanical Name: Plectranthus verticillatus

It is considered a low-maintenance houseplant with distinctive & dainty green leaves and can make your home smell aromatic due to its small lilac flowers. Completely safe for animals, this plant is best grown when kept in a hanging planter.

27. Purple Passion

Botanical Name: Gynura aurantiaca

This beautiful houseplant is completely safe for your cats and dogs. The Purple Velvet is gorgeous and has purple speckles dusted all over each leaf. These plants are huge fans of diffused bright light and moist soil.

28. Chinese Money Plant

Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides

If you’re looking for a houseplant that won’t cause any harm even after nibbling, this is it. It’s also low-maintenance and known to bring good luck.

  • Tennille Johnston
  • July 1, 2020 At 10:53 pm
  • Lucky bamboo is not safe for cats!
  • Reply
  • Sarah
  • August 1, 2020 At 6:53 am
  • Very first suggestion, lucky bamboo, is NOT safe for cats. Please remove this.
  • Reply
  • Aubrey
  • August 13, 2020 At 6:25 am
  • Lucky bamboo is INCREDIBLY TOXIC TO CATS!! this information is incredibly harmful, please remove this plant from your list! YOU COULD KILL SOMEONE’S PET!
  • Reply
  • Chris
  • August 14, 2021 At 5:48 am
  • It isn’t: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/bamboo
  • Reply
  • Cass
  • August 24, 2021 At 9:57 pm
  • Lucky bamboo and bamboo aren’t the same thing. Lucky bamboo is toxic to cats.
  • Reply
  • Vicki Brain
  • August 29, 2021 At 6:12 am
  • How do you tell the difference?
  • Reply
  • Sarah W.
  • August 31, 2021 At 12:06 am
  • You are incorrect, this is not the plant that was listed. As RJ noted below, Bamboo and Lucky Bamboo are different species and genus.
  • Bamboo = Phyllostachys aurea = nontoxic
  • Lucky Bamboo = Dracaena Braunii = toxic
  • https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/dracaena/
  • Reply
  • Paula Parmenter
  • August 16, 2020 At 10:48 pm
  • When did you get your erroneous information about lucky bamboo? REMOVE THIS PLANT FROM YOUR LIST IMMEDIATELY! It is NOT cat safe.
  • Reply
  • Michelle
  • June 23, 2021 At 2:26 am
  • Where are the prices?
  • Reply
  • SamK
  • September 12, 2021 At 5:25 pm
  • These aren’t for purchase on this site. It’s just a list of plants for information purposes.
  • Reply
  • D.R..D.SOLOMOn
  • June 23, 2021 At 1:37 pm
  • Lovely plants
  • Kindly note that I am living in kanyakumari
  • Please let me know how I can get these plants
  • With regards
  • Solomon
  • Reply
  • RJ
  • August 20, 2021 At 5:03 am
  • @Chris / whoever else
  • Bamboo and Lucky Bamboo aren’t the same thing. Lucky Bamboo, or Dracaena Sanderiana, is moderately toxic to pets whereas normal bamboo isn’t.
  • Fortunately it looks like it was removed from the list
  • Reply
  • Edie
  • August 28, 2021 At 10:52 pm
  • Great list, and beautiful plants!!
  • Reply
  • linda
  • October 14, 2021 At 4:00 am
  • oh my is swedish plants and spider plants ok? i have 2 kittys! now im worried
  • Reply
  • Liz Woodford
  • November 1, 2021 At 5:35 am
  • Read the list! It includes spider plants. Google any you aren’t sure about!
  • Reply
  • PLeonard
  • November 27, 2021 At 9:59 pm
  • my cat loves to eat the spider plant – after reading up on it I found it has a mild hallucinogenic effect like catnip. Not toxic, though.
  • Reply
  • Jane
  • November 28, 2021 At 2:32 am
  • Prayer plants ARE toxic for cats!!! Please don’t get one if you have a cat!
  • Reply
  • Allie
  • December 14, 2021 At 5:09 pm
  • Welp a lot of sources say otherwise on google (see aspca https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/maranta)
  • Reply
  • AnnaAnnaHaese Haese
  • January 4, 2023 At 2:19 am
  • Yes, thank you
  • Reply
  • Sandy Nogueira
  • January 4, 2022 At 7:53 am
  • Is flax poisonous for cats? Shady outdoor garden
  • Reply
  • Nancy Dee
  • March 8, 2022 At 11:02 am
  • Lol not only are not all of these plants safe for cats at the comments demonstrate but most of them also do poorly in low light. This is an awful list.
  • Reply
  • Sami
  • August 19, 2022 At 5:06 pm
  • That’s what I was thinking about some of them too. My Chinese money plant can’t get enough light and it sits in a south facing window in Ohio.
  • Reply
  • jene
  • July 30, 2022 At 3:34 am
  • Please use the ASPCA list. Many plants can be mild to moderately harmful and end up on a random list. Always use the ASPCA list.
  • Reply
  • Karin Rimstidt
  • August 28, 2022 At 5:33 am
  • Ah, I see another already suggested the same.
  • So many plants have similar names, I like to double check the scientific name.
  • For example, Money Plant and Chinese Money Plant are not the same at all.
  • So, just better to be safe than sorry.
  • Reply

Lucky bamboo is not safe for cats!

Very first suggestion, lucky bamboo, is NOT safe for cats. Please remove this.

Lucky bamboo is INCREDIBLY TOXIC TO CATS!! this information is incredibly harmful, please remove this plant from your list! YOU COULD KILL SOMEONE’S PET!

  • Cass
  • August 24, 2021 At 9:57 pm
  • Lucky bamboo and bamboo aren’t the same thing. Lucky bamboo is toxic to cats.
  • Reply
  • Vicki Brain
  • August 29, 2021 At 6:12 am
  • How do you tell the difference?
  • Reply
  • Sarah W.
  • August 31, 2021 At 12:06 am
  • You are incorrect, this is not the plant that was listed. As RJ noted below, Bamboo and Lucky Bamboo are different species and genus.
  • Bamboo = Phyllostachys aurea = nontoxic
  • Lucky Bamboo = Dracaena Braunii = toxic
  • https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/dracaena/
  • Reply

It isn’t: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/bamboo

  • Vicki Brain
  • August 29, 2021 At 6:12 am
  • How do you tell the difference?
  • Reply

Lucky bamboo and bamboo aren’t the same thing. Lucky bamboo is toxic to cats.

How do you tell the difference?

You are incorrect, this is not the plant that was listed. As RJ noted below, Bamboo and Lucky Bamboo are different species and genus.

Bamboo = Phyllostachys aurea = nontoxic Lucky Bamboo = Dracaena Braunii = toxic

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/dracaena/

When did you get your erroneous information about lucky bamboo? REMOVE THIS PLANT FROM YOUR LIST IMMEDIATELY! It is NOT cat safe.

  • SamK
  • September 12, 2021 At 5:25 pm
  • These aren’t for purchase on this site. It’s just a list of plants for information purposes.
  • Reply

Where are the prices?

These aren’t for purchase on this site. It’s just a list of plants for information purposes.

Lovely plants Kindly note that I am living in kanyakumari Please let me know how I can get these plants With regards Solomon

@Chris / whoever else

Bamboo and Lucky Bamboo aren’t the same thing. Lucky Bamboo, or Dracaena Sanderiana, is moderately toxic to pets whereas normal bamboo isn’t.

Fortunately it looks like it was removed from the list

Great list, and beautiful plants!!

  • Liz Woodford
  • November 1, 2021 At 5:35 am
  • Read the list! It includes spider plants. Google any you aren’t sure about!
  • Reply

oh my is swedish plants and spider plants ok? i have 2 kittys! now im worried

Read the list! It includes spider plants. Google any you aren’t sure about!

my cat loves to eat the spider plant – after reading up on it I found it has a mild hallucinogenic effect like catnip. Not toxic, though.

Prayer plants ARE toxic for cats!!! Please don’t get one if you have a cat!

  • AnnaAnnaHaese Haese
  • January 4, 2023 At 2:19 am
  • Yes, thank you
  • Reply

Welp a lot of sources say otherwise on google (see aspca https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/maranta)

Yes, thank you

Is flax poisonous for cats? Shady outdoor garden

  • Sami
  • August 19, 2022 At 5:06 pm
  • That’s what I was thinking about some of them too. My Chinese money plant can’t get enough light and it sits in a south facing window in Ohio.
  • Reply

Lol not only are not all of these plants safe for cats at the comments demonstrate but most of them also do poorly in low light. This is an awful list.

That’s what I was thinking about some of them too. My Chinese money plant can’t get enough light and it sits in a south facing window in Ohio.

Please use the ASPCA list. Many plants can be mild to moderately harmful and end up on a random list. Always use the ASPCA list.

Ah, I see another already suggested the same. So many plants have similar names, I like to double check the scientific name. For example, Money Plant and Chinese Money Plant are not the same at all. So, just better to be safe than sorry.

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