Many popular houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, but the risk differs a lot from one plant to the next. The table below covers the plants The Plant Manual publishes care guides for, wherever we could confirm the species. It shows what the ASPCA or a university extension source reports for cats and dogs, the signs they list, and which of our guides to read next.
Use it before you bring a plant home, or right after a pet chews one. If your pet has already eaten part of a plant, jump to what to do if your pet chews a plant and call a vet or poison-control hotline first.
This page is a reference, not veterinary advice. A verdict describes what the cited source lists. It is not a promise that any plant is harmless.
How to read the table
- Toxic: the source lists the plant as toxic to that species. The “What the source says” column gives the signs it names.
- Mildly toxic: a university extension source rates the plant as low in poison severity, with mouth, stomach or skin irritation. The ASPCA has no entry for these plants.
- Non-toxic: the ASPCA lists the plant as non-toxic. Chewing any plant can still upset a stomach, and potting soil, fertilizer and pesticides are separate risks.
- Not listed: we found no ASPCA entry and no extension rating, so we give no verdict. Treat the plant as unverified and ask your vet.
Plant-by-plant A-Z table
| Plant | Cats | Dogs | What the source says | Our guides | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African violetSaintpaulia spp. | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | The ASPCA also lists Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) as non-toxic. | ||
| Aloe veraAloe vera | Toxic | Toxic | Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea (saponins, anthraquinones). | ||
| Bird of paradiseStrelitzia reginae | Toxic | Toxic | Mild nausea, vomiting and drowsiness, mainly from the fruit and seeds (gastrointestinal irritants). Not the same plant as the shrub the ASPCA lists as Poinciana or Caesalpinia gilliesii. | ||
| Christmas cactusSchlumbergera spp. | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | The ASPCA lists Christmas cactus (S. bridgesii) and shrimp cactus (S. russelliana). Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata) has no separate entry. | ||
| Fiddle leaf figFicus lyrata | Toxiclisted for Ficus | Toxiclisted for Ficus | The ASPCA names a proteolytic enzyme (ficin) and psoralen as the toxic principles. The ASPCA has no page for Ficus lyrata. Its weeping fig entry (Ficus sp.) is toxic to cats and dogs, so we treat fiddle leaf fig as toxic. | ||
| HibiscusHibiscus syriacus (listed); H. rosa-sinensis (not listed) | Non-toxicrose of sharon only | Non-toxicrose of sharon only | The ASPCA entry is Hibiscus syriacus (rose of sharon). Tropical hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) has no separate ASPCA entry, so ask your vet before assuming the same answer. | ||
| HydrangeaHydrangea arborescens (listed) | Toxic | Toxic | Vomiting, depression, diarrhea (cyanogenic glycoside; the ASPCA notes cyanide poisoning is rare). | ||
| IrisIris spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Drooling, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea. The highest concentration is in the rhizomes. | ||
| Jade plantCrassula ovata (ASPCA: Crassula argentea) | Toxic | Toxic | Vomiting, depression, incoordination. | ||
| Japanese mapleAcer palmatum | Not listed | Not listed | The ASPCA lists red maple and Amur maple but has no entry for Japanese maple, so we give no verdict. Call your vet if a pet chews it. | ||
| Money treePachira aquatica | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | No details listed. | ||
| MonsteraMonstera deliciosa | Toxic | Toxic | Mouth irritation and burning, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (insoluble calcium oxalates). | ||
| OrchidPhalaenopsis spp. | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | The ASPCA lists Phalaenopsis (moth orchid). It lists other orchid genera one by one, so check the genus of any other orchid. | ||
| Peace lilySpathiphyllum spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Mouth and tongue irritation, heavy drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (insoluble calcium oxalates). Not a true lily: the ASPCA files it in the arum family (Araceae). | ||
| PhilodendronPhilodendron spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Mouth irritation and burning, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (insoluble calcium oxalates). | None yet. | |
| PothosEpipremnum aureum | Toxic | Toxic | Pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (insoluble calcium oxalates). The ASPCA lists it as devil's ivy and golden pothos. | ||
| Prayer plantMaranta leuconeura (ASPCA: Calathea insignis) | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | The ASPCA lists the prayer plant under its common name and as Maranta. | ||
| Purple heartTradescantia pallida | Mildly toxicnot on the ASPCA list | Mildly toxicnot on the ASPCA list | Mouth and stomach irritation if eaten; the sap can irritate skin. NC State Extension rates the poison severity as low. The ASPCA lists the related inch plant (Tradescantia fluminensis) as toxic but has no entry for purple heart. | ||
| Snake plantDracaena trifasciata (ASPCA: Sansevieria trifasciata) | Toxic | Toxic | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (saponins). | ||
| Spider plantChlorophytum comosum | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | No details listed. | ||
| String of heartsCeropegia woodii | Not listed | Not listed | No poisoning is documented for string of hearts, but the ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline and the NC State and Wisconsin Extension plant pages give no toxicity rating either way, so we give no verdict. Ask your vet before treating it as safe. | ||
| Wandering jewTradescantia spp. (ASPCA: Tradescantia fluminensis) | Toxic | Toxic | Dermatitis (skin irritation). The ASPCA entry is inch plant (Tradescantia fluminensis). "Wandering jew" is a common name for several trailing Tradescantia plants, so we manage the whole group as a chew risk. | ||
| YuccaYucca spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Vomiting in dogs and cats (saponins). | ||
| ZZ plantZamioculcas zamiifolia | Toxicnot on the ASPCA list | Toxicnot on the ASPCA list | Vomiting and diarrhea if the leaves are eaten in quantity (calcium oxalate). NC State Extension rates the poison severity as medium. The ASPCA has no entry for ZZ plant; the verdict comes from NC State Extension's Plant Toolbox, which reports medium toxicity to cats and dogs. |
Two dangerous plants to keep out of reach
- Lilies and cats. The ASPCA lists Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) as toxic to cats, with vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and kidney failure, and says death is possible. Cats are the only species known to be affected. Read the ASPCA entry before you bring lilies into a home with a cat.
- Sago palm. The ASPCA lists sago palm (Cycas revoluta) as toxic to dogs and cats, with signs that include vomiting, bruising, liver damage, liver failure and death. See the ASPCA entry, and call right away if a pet chews one.
What to do if your pet chews a plant
- Remove the plant and check that your pet is breathing and acting normally.
- Gather the facts. Note the plant’s name (a photo of the plant and its tag helps), how much was eaten and when, your pet’s weight, and any signs such as drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting or lethargy.
- Call right away, even if your pet seems fine. Both services answer 24 hours a day:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
- Do not give home antidotes or make your pet vomit unless a vet or poison-control specialist tells you to. The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline both warn against inducing vomiting on your own.
- Go to an emergency clinic if your pet struggles to breathe or swallow, collapses, has a seizure or keeps vomiting, and call ahead so the team can prepare.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. If a pet that chewed a non-toxic plant vomits repeatedly, seems unwell, or may have reached soil, fertilizer or pesticide, call your vet.
Keeping pets and plants apart
- Check a plant against this table before you buy it, and keep the plant tag so you know its exact name.
- Put toxic plants in rooms your pets cannot enter or on shelves they cannot reach, and use heavy, stable pots for any plant a pet can knock over.
- If a pet likes to chew leaves, choose from the non-toxic rows. Our guide to pet-safe indoor plants lists ASPCA-listed non-toxic options with care notes.
How we built this table
We checked each plant against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists for cats and dogs. Where the ASPCA has no entry, the row says so. Two rows (purple heart and ZZ plant) rely on NC State Extension’s Plant Toolbox instead and name it in the Source column. A plant we cannot source is marked Not listed, never safe. Common names such as “wandering jew” and “hibiscus” cover several species, so each row notes the exact species the source lists. This page does not recommend products.