There are many benefits to adding greenery to your home, but if you have pets, you need to do your research before you buy.

Many of the most popular houseplants are highly toxic to your four-legged friends, and can lead to vomiting, lethargy or even death. Della Sheridan of Hot Plants Greenhouse said she’s asked all the time what varieties are dangerous for animals.

“People come in concerned,” she said. “It is nice to know if it’s safe for dogs or cats. Some might be highly toxic for a cat, but not have the same effect on a dog. But there are those that just aren’t good for both.”

Poisonous plants

In its most recently released information, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reported that in 2023, more than 8% of all calls were related to pets ingesting plants toxic to them, making it sixth on their list of the top 10 pet toxins.

One that is bad for both cats and dogs is the sago palm. Every part of the plant — especially the seeds and nuts — contains cycasin and other toxins that cause severe liver failure, neurological issues and even death.

“They are very tropical looking and really pretty,” Sheridan said. “They’re very common. You’ll see them a lot in Walmart.”

Lilies are also highly dangerous to pets. True lilies and daylilies are fatal to cats. Just ingesting a tiny amount of pollen, petals or vase water can cause acute kidney failure. While less deadly to dogs, many lilies are still toxic, causing severe stomach upset and dehydration.

“A cat’s liver isn’t able to digest those enzymes properly, so that’s usually what causes a lot of kidney and liver issues for cats,” Sheridan said.

Aloe vera is considered mildly to moderately toxic. While the clear inner gel is generally harmless, the yellowish sap found just under the leaf skin can make your pets sick and cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite or even tremors if ingested.

Snake plants are also mildly toxic if ingested, Sheridan said. They can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive drooling. She also recommends avoiding jade plants and asparagus ferns. 

“Most ferns are nontoxic to pets, but there are some that are toxic, like the asparagus fern,” she added.

The list is extensive, but other more popular plants to avoid include amaryllis, autumn crocus, azalea, daffodils, hyacinths, kalanchoe, oleander and tulips.

“We say no matter what, stay away from monstera plants and philodendrons, because I do have a lot of those in the shop,” Sheridan said. “You also don’t want poinsettias or hydrangeas.”

It’s important to note that eating plants isn’t the only thing that can cause problems. While a bored or curious cat might investigate an indoor plant by playing and nibbling, or a curious puppy might decide to give a plant a chew, more often, pets become unwell because something has brushed on their fur or paws, which they then ingest while grooming. 

Pet safe plants

And while the list of dangerous plants is extensive, there are many safe furry-friend alternatives out there. 

Sago palm may be out, but the ponytail palm, date palm and parlor palm are all OK. Air plants and the Boston fern also are on the approved list, as are African violets and orchids.  

“I also have a huge selection of peperomias at my plant shop,” Sheridan said. “That is one of my favorite plants. They’re pretty, and they are not toxic to your pet.”

Ox tongue, zebra and rattlesnake plants, and Christmas cactus are also pet friendly, as are spider plants. 

“Spider plants are not toxic and give cats the same effect as eating catnip, so you will see them nibbling on the spider plants,” Sheridan said. “I had a cat for 19 years, and that cat never went into my plant room, and she never touched any of my plants, except my spider plant.”

But even if it’s not toxic, ingesting any plant can potentially cause gastrointestinal upset, so be sure to monitor and discourage your cat from chewing on plants. Sheridan said there are mats available with little spikes that can be cut to fit around your plant. 

“If they touch that, then they start to associate the slight pain with the plant,” she said. 

You can also make the leaves taste unappealing with a pet-safe spray (like diluted lemon juice or vinegar). Or provide appealing alternatives like cat grass to satisfy their chewing habits.

Staff at any plant shop or greenhouse should be familiar with what plants are toxic to animals and be able to direct you to something that will make your home beautiful and safe. You can also see the complete list of toxic and nontoxic plants on the ASPCA website.

If you believe that your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control’s 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 888-426-4435.