Plants provide a tremendous service: Not only are they super pretty, but they keep your home’s air fresh and clean! And if you have pets, you know how icky our inside air can get! However, they can also be pretty easy to kill, which sucks.
I used to feel bad when a plant in my care died, so I’ve reallllly refined my list to be hardy. If you’re in the same boat, don’t worry! I’ve got you!
This group of 14 plants are safe for pets, clean your household air, AND they’re pretty hard to kill.
(By that I mean mean, it can happen, of course, but they’re pretty hardy and I share some tips below to keep ’em thriving, along with a freebie plant care tracker printable at the end.)
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14 Pet-Safe Plants, no green thumb required:
- Air plants: They come in all shapes and sizes, can live anywhere (literally!), and only need spritzed with water when dry! Look how pretty this one is!
- Haworthia: Prefers dry soil and indirect light? Easy-peasy!
- Boston fern: Does your bathroom have a window or skylight? These guys love humidity and filtered light, and the bright green adds a fun pop of color!
- Parlor palm: Low light, no problem! These thrive in low-light spaces and are an air-cleaning workhouse!
- Spider plant: Adaptable, easy to grow, cleans the air, and looks fab. If you pick any one plant from this list, this one should be it.
- African Violet: Looking for a flower with your pet-safe plants? This one is a bright, beautiful purple, pet-safe, kid-safe, and very easy to care for.
- Wax plant: If you’re a forget-to-waterer, this one’s for you! And look how cool this one is!
- Chinese money plant: Super interesting looking, bright green, statement plant. It requires regular watering and indirect light.
- Polka dot plant: Who doesn’t want a fun pop of pink? Especially if it’s easy to care for, and pet- and kid-safe?!?
- Calathea: This might be the most advanced plant on the list. You need a bright spot that’s not too hot and not too cold, plus careful watering. But, it’ll totally pay off when you hear the leaves rustling (seriously, they do!). And there are so many varieties to choose from!
- Blue Echeveria: Let’s talk succulents. They’re hugely popular. Incredibly easy to care for. But not all are pet-safe. This one is and it’s oh-so-cute, too!
- Cast Iron Plant: Perhaps the priciest plant on the list, it’s bright green foliage makes it a pretty, simple houseplant that’s super easy to care for.
- Prayer Plant: These are often listed as great for offices since their light needs are so low. The leaves are stunning and add a bright splash of green to any space.
- Christmas cactus: Pretty, easy to care for, easy to propagate, this cactus flowers in the winter–giving you a dash of color when it’s most needed!
OK, your turn!
Do you have any of these in your home? Any you’d add to the list? Are you a green thumb… or do you need a little assistance, like I do? Share in the comments!
Download this free, printable plant tracker: Simply click here to download to help keep your watering, pruning, and fertilizing on track. Better yet, magnet it to the fridge and get your whole family involved!
pet safe plant Sources:
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List
15 Pet-Friendly Houseplants That Add Green Without the Worry
I love that African Violet! When I was a kid, Mom used to have them in the kitchen window. This house doesn’t have any windowsills to put anything on. It’s probably the one thing I’ve always hated about the house.
What a lovely memory! They are SO beautiful! One thought: What about a hanging planter in a window? Sort of create your own floating windowsill? (I’ve wanted to do that for ages, tbh, but I’m afraid Ripley would take it as a personal invitation/challenge…)
Nice. Thank you 🙂
So glad it was helpful!! 🙂
I have a spider plant that is thirty years old! Proof they are easy to care for. Great article .
WOW! That’s really incredible!! A long-time friend! 🙂
Haworthias – my favorites! I water mine on the first day of each month. That’s it! And they are so cute.
Once a month is a seriously easy watering schedule! 🙂 I have to put reminders on my calendar, though, so I get pinged. In fact, today was the day to drench my pothos and purple passion, the only two plants in my office Ripley leaves alone for some reason! 🙂
I’ve killed or given away nearly everything on that list but I still have the desire to try again. For the longest time, our Kitty Jae was a plant eater (even the fake plants from IKEA) but now that he’s passed, we have talked about re-greening the home.
If you’re ever plant shopping at IKEA, for fake or real, let me know!!!! We’ll meet you there! 🙂
Deal!
Great list! I’ve completely stayed away from plants inside my home since I didn’t want to take any chances with my Bernese Mountain Dog. Although now, I have some ideas!
Thank you!! 🙂
And, you know, for dogs who love to futz, hanging planters are a great solution!! Of course, that wouldn’t work for cats… but for a Berner, you’d probably be good!
A list of plants I “can’t kill?!” Challenge accepted!!
HA!!! Well, I mean, you do have to water them and expose them to sunlight at least occasionally! 🙂
I totally needed this list, thanks! I love having plants in our house but as a foster dog family, I always need to be careful on what is on the floor. Plus, somehow I always seem to kill every plant over time. I’m going to seek out a few of these, so wish me luck 🙂 I wish your printable was a list of the plants so I can bring it to the store with me!
Ooooooh, that’s a really good idea!! To be honest, I order almost all of my plants online, usually via Etsy, simply because I do all the research online then click order. Having a list on hand to bring to the store is SUCH a good idea! May have to pull something together! 😉