Dog-safe houseplants and garden plants 77

77 of the 185 plants in Plant Doctor's dataset are classified non-toxic to dogs. 74 of them are also non-toxic to cats.

Check the cat pill on each row: Catmint, Daylily, and Easter Lily are non-toxic to dogs but toxic to cats. Safe means non-toxic, not edible. A curious nibble is not a concern, but heavy grazing on any houseplant can still upset a stomach.

African Violet Saintpaulia ionanthaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Air Plant Tillandsia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Areca Palm Dypsis lutescensDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Avocado Persea americanaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs and cats: the persin that poisons birds, rabbits, horses, and livestock doesn't have the same effect on dogs or cats.
Baby's Breath Gypsophila paniculataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic per ASPCA, though as a common bouquet filler flower it can still cause mild vomiting or diarrhea if a pet eats a large amount.
Baby's Tears Soleirolia soleiroliiDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Bamboo Palm Chamaedorea seifriziiDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Banana Plant Musa spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no part of the banana plant, including fruit and leaves, is known to poison dogs, cats, or horses.
Basil Ocimum basilicumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe culinary herb to share in small amounts or let a plant-nibbling pet explore.
Bird's Nest Fern Asplenium nidusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Boston Fern Nephrolepis exaltataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: the thorns are the real hazard, not the plant tissue.
Bromeliad Guzmania spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Burro's Tail Sedum morganianumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Calathea Calathea spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Camellia Camellia japonicaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe flowering shrub for gardens with pets.
Cast Iron Plant Aspidistra elatiorDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Catmint Nepeta catariaDogsSAFECatsTOXICASPCA rates catnip 'toxic to cats': nepetalactone can cause vomiting or diarrhea with large ingestions and triggers the well-known euphoric/sedative response, but this is not dangerous poisoning, and it's the same plant sold specifically as a cat treat.
Chinese Money Plant Pilea peperomioidesDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Cilantro Coriandrum sativumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: safe culinary herb for dogs and cats.
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indicaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: a pet-safe flowering landscape tree.
Cretan Brake Fern Pteris creticaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Ctenanthe Ctenanthe spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: same Marantaceae family as Calathea/Maranta.
Daylily Hemerocallis spp.DogsSAFECatsTOXICDEADLY TO CATS: despite the different genus from true Lilium, daylilies carry the same acute-kidney-failure risk in cats.
Easter Lily Lilium spp.DogsSAFECatsTOXICDEADLY TO CATS: every part of the plant, including pollen and vase water, can cause acute kidney failure within 24-72 hours.
Echeveria Echeveria spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Elephant Bush Portulacaria afraDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: often confused with true Jade (Crassula ovata), which IS toxic.
Fittonia Fittonia albivenisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Forsythia Forsythia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: one of the safer early-spring flowering shrubs to have around pets.
Freesia Freesia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a fragrant bouquet flower safe for both dogs and cats, unlike true lilies which are frequently mixed into the same arrangements and are deadly to cats.
Friendship Plant Pilea involucrataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: a safe trailing houseplant with no known toxic principle.
Ghost Plant Graptopetalum paraguayenseDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe bulb-flower choice, unlike many other spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, true hyacinths) that are genuinely dangerous.
Grape Ivy Cissus rhombifoliaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite the 'ivy' name: unrelated to true toxic Hedera ivy.
Haworthia Haworthia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Hollyhock Alcea roseaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
Hoya Hoya carnosaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Impatiens Impatiens wallerianaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a reliably pet-safe shade annual.
Ixora Ixora coccineaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: no toxic principle identified for this common tropical shrub.
Kangaroo Vine Cissus antarcticaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite the 'ivy' name: unrelated to true toxic Hedera ivy.
Kentia Palm Howea forsterianaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Lipstick Plant Aeschynanthus radicansDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: ASPCA's confirmed entry is the closely related Aeschynanthus humilis, and no species in this genus is known to pose a chemical risk.
Living Stones Lithops spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Maidenhair Fern Adiantum spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Majesty Palm Ravenea rivularisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Money Tree Pachira aquaticaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: flowers and leaves are even edible for people (peppery flavor).
Orchid Phalaenopsis spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Pansy Viola x wittrockianaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: the flowers are even edible for people and used as cake/salad garnish.
Parlor Palm Chamaedorea elegansDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Peperomia Peperomia obtusifoliaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Peruvian Lily Alstroemeria spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic despite the common name: Alstroemeria is not a true lily (Lilium) and carries none of the kidney-failure risk that makes true lilies deadly to cats.
Petunia Petunia x hybridaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
Pincushion Cactus Mammillaria spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: ASPCA confirms Mammillaria fragilis (Thimble Cactus) is chemically safe for dogs, cats, and horses.
Polka Dot Plant Hypoestes phyllostachyaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Ponytail Palm Beaucarnea recurvataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite not being a true palm.
Prayer Plant Maranta leuconeuraDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENot toxic, but the fine glochid spines are a real physical hazard: can embed painfully in paws, mouth, and skin.
Rabbit's Foot Fern Davallia fejeensisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Rose Rosa spp.DogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses per ASPCA.
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Sage Salvia officinalisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: safe culinary herb for dogs and cats.
Snapdragon Antirrhinum majusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: no toxic principle identified.
Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosumDogsSAFECatsSAFEConsidered non-toxic.
Star Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoidesDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: despite 'jasmine' in the name, this is genus Trachelospermum, unrelated to true Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) or the toxic Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens).
Statice Limonium sinuatumDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a common dried-flower and bouquet filler that's safe around pets, though eating a large quantity of any plant material can cause mild stomach upset.
String of Turtles Peperomia prostrataDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: Peperomia genus is considered pet-safe.
Sunflower Helianthus annuusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Swedish Ivy Plectranthus verticillatusDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic, despite the 'ivy' name: unrelated to true toxic Hedera ivy.
Thyme Thymus vulgarisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: safe culinary herb for dogs and cats.
True Bamboo Bambusa vulgarisDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: ASPCA's verified entry covers Phyllostachys aurea (Golden/Fishpole Bamboo), but no true bamboo (grass family, genus Bambusa/Phyllostachys) is known to pose a chemical risk.
True Jasmine Jasminum officinaleDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: true Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) is safe for pets.
Venus Flytrap Dionaea muscipulaDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic.
Zinnia Zinnia elegansDogsSAFECatsSAFENon-toxic: a safe, easy cutting-garden flower for homes with pets.

Frequently asked questions

Which houseplants are safe for dogs?

77 plants in Plant Doctor's list are classified non-toxic to dogs, including Spider Plant, Boston Fern, Parlor Palm, and African Violet. The full list is on this page.

Are there plants that are safe for dogs but toxic to cats?

Yes. In Plant Doctor's list, Catmint, Daylily, and Easter Lily are classified non-toxic to dogs but toxic to cats.

Does dog-safe mean my dog can eat the plant?

Safe means non-toxic, not edible. A curious nibble is not a concern, but heavy grazing on any houseplant can still upset a stomach.

Is a plant that is not on this list safe for dogs?

Not automatically. Plant Doctor's list is not exhaustive and is conservative by design: a plant that is not on it is unverified, never assumed safe. Check with your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435).

More plant lists

Always confirm with a veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) before assuming safety. This is a household reference, not a substitute for professional guidance in a suspected poisoning.

Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control classifications, plus named veterinary sources where ASPCA has no entry. Curated August 2026.

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