Popular plants to keep away from pets
These plants in our guides are toxic to cats, dogs or both according to the ASPCA. The signs below are the ASPCA's own wording.
| Plant | ASPCA entry | Toxic principle | Clinical signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alocasia | Alocasia (Alocasia spp.) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing |
| Aloe vera | Aloe (Aloe vera) | Saponins, anthraquinones | Vomiting (not horses), lethargy, diarrhea. The gel is considered edible. |
| Amaryllis | Barbados Lily (Hippeastrum spp.), also listed as Amaryllis | Lycorine and other alkaloids | Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part. |
| Amaryllis | Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.) | Lycorine and others | Vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors. |
| Anthurium | Flamingo Flower (Anthurium scherzeranum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing |
| Arrowhead plant | Arrow-Head Vine (Syngonium podophyllum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing |
| Arrowhead plant | Nephthytis (Syngonium podophyllum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing |
| Begonia | Begonia (Begonia spp.) | Soluble calcium oxalates | Kidney failure (in grazing animals), vomiting, salivation in dogs/cats. Most toxic part is underground. |
| Begonia | Rex Begonia (Begonia rex) | Soluble calcium oxalates | Kidney failure (in grazing animals), vomiting, salivation in dogs/cats. Most toxic part is underground. |
| Bird of paradise | Bird of Paradise Flower (Strelitzia reginae) | GI irritants | Mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness; caused mainly by fruit and seeds |
| Bonsai | Weeping Fig (Ficus sp.) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Not given |
| Bonsai | Fig (Ficus benjamina) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Gastrointestinal and dermal irritation |
| Bonsai | Silver Jade Plant (Crassula arborescens) | Unknown | Nausea, retching |
| Chinese evergreen | Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing |
| Coleus | Coleus (Coleus amboinicus) | Essential Oils | Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, occasionally bloody diarrhea or vomiting |
| Cyclamen | Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.) | Terpenoid saponins | Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Following large ingestions of tubers: heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death |
| Dieffenbachia | Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia) | Insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Dieffenbachia | Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia) | Insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. |
| Dracaena | Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) | Saponins | Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). |
| Dracaena | Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) | Saponins | Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). |
| Dracaena | Dracaena (Dracaena spp.) | Saponins | Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). |
| English ivy | English Ivy (Hedera helix) | Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin) | Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea. Foliage is more toxic than berries |
| Ficus Audrey | Weeping Fig (Ficus sp.), the ASPCA entry covering Ficus; there is no separate Ficus benghalensis entry | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Not given |
| Ficus Audrey | Fig (Ficus benjamina) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Gastrointestinal and dermal irritation |
| Fiddle-leaf fig | Weeping Fig (Ficus sp.), the ASPCA entry covering fig species; there is no separate Ficus lyrata entry | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Not given |
| Fiddle-leaf fig | Fig (Ficus benjamina) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Gastrointestinal and dermal irritation |
| Gardenia | Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) | Genioposide, gardenoside | Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, hives. |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea (listed by the ASPCA as Hydrangea arborescens) | Cyanogenic glycoside | Vomiting, depression, diarrhea. Cyanide intoxication is rare; it usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance. |
| Jade plant | Jade Plant (Crassula argentea) | Unknown | Vomiting, depression, incoordination |
| Kalanchoe | Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.) | Bufodienolides | Vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm (rare) |
| Lavender | Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | Linalool, linalyl acetate | Nausea, vomiting (not in horses), inappetence |
| Lucky bamboo | Dracaena (Dracaena spp.), the ASPCA entry covering the genus | Saponins | Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats). |
| Meyer lemon tree | Lemon (Citrus limonia) | Essential oils and psoralens | Vomiting, diarrhea, depression; potential dermatitis. Fruit is edible, skins and plant material can cause problems. |
| Meyer lemon tree | Orange (Citrus sinensis), the Meyer lemon's other parent | Essential oils and psoralens | Vomiting, diarrhea, depression; potential dermatitis. Fruit is edible, skins and plant material can cause problems. |
| Mint | Mint (Mentha sp.) | Essential Oils | Vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions |
| Monstera | Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Oxalis | Shamrock Plant (Oxalis spp.) | Soluble calcium oxalates | Kidney failure (rare in dogs/cats), tremors, salivation. |
| Peace lily | Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Philodendron | Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing |
| Philodendron | Tree Philodendron (Philodendron selloum) | Calcium oxalate crystals | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing |
| Poinsettia | Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) | Irritant sap | Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity. |
| Pothos | Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) | Insoluble calcium oxalates | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Rubber plant | Weeping Fig (Ficus sp.), the ASPCA entry covering Ficus; no separate Ficus elastica entry | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Not given |
| Rubber plant | Fig (Ficus benjamina) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Gastrointestinal and dermal irritation |
| Sago palm | Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta, Zamia species) | Cycasin | Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death. |
| Sago palm | Cycads (Cycas and Zamia species) | Cycasin, B-methylamino-l-alanine, unidentified neurotoxin (cattle) | Vomiting (may be bloody), dark stools, jaundice, increased thirst, bloody diarrhea, bruising, liver failure, death. 1-2 seeds can be fatal. |
| Schefflera | Schefflera | Calcium oxalate crystals | Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips, tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing. |
| Schefflera | Umbrella Tree (Brassaia actinophylla) | Terpenoids, saponins, insoluble oxalates | While this plant does contain potentially toxic substances, the most common effects seen are mild vomiting and diarrhea. |
| Snake plant | Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) | Saponins | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
| String of bananas | Groundsel (Senecio species) | Pyrrolizidine alkaloids | The plant is not very palatable, but will be eaten by animals with no other forage; poisonings typically occur from ingestion of green plant material or material in hay. The toxic components can cause liver failure, referred to as "walking disease" or "sleepy staggers". Signs include weight loss, weakness, sleepiness, yawning, incoordination, yellowish discoloration to mucous membranes (icterus), neurologic problems secondary to liver failure (aimless walking, chewing motions, head pressing). Animals may appear to be normal at first, then become suddenly affected; the syndrome progresses rapidly over a few days to a week. Liver damage, depression, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, muddy mucous membranes, weakness, ataxia. |
| Tradescantia | Inch Plant (Tradescantia flumeninsis) | Not given | Dermatitis |
| Tradescantia | Variegated Inch Plant (Tradescantia flumeninsis) | Not given | Dermatitis |
| Weeping fig | Fig (Ficus benjamina) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Gastrointestinal and dermal irritation |
| Weeping fig | Weeping Fig (Ficus sp.) | Proteolytic enzyme (ficin), psoralen (ficusin) | Not given |
| Yucca | Yucca (Yucca spp.) | Saponins | Dogs, cats: Vomiting; Horses: liver disease, dermatitis |
Pet-safe does not mean care-free
A non-toxic plant still has to suit your home. The spider plant and the prayer plant accept lower light than the moth orchid or the Christmas cactus, which need brighter spots to flower; the calathea and the African violet want steady moisture, while succulents rated non-toxic, such as echeveria and haworthia, want the mix to dry out. Each guide gives the light range, from low light upward, and a watering calculator set to that plant.
Placement helps with toxic favorites you do not want to give up. Hanging baskets, high shelves and closed rooms keep leaves away from curious mouths, but cats climb, and fallen leaves end up on the floor. If a pet chews plants persistently, the safer course is a home stocked only with plants the ASPCA rates non-toxic for that animal.
Why the lists sometimes disagree with plant tags
Common names are slippery. The ASPCA's “rubber plant” is a Peperomia, not the Ficus elastica sold under that name, which is toxic; its “fiddle-leaf” is a philodendron, not the fiddle-leaf fig. Some plants, such as the ZZ plant, have no ASPCA entry at all, and our guide relies on extension sources that list it as toxic. Always match the botanical name on the plant label with the one on the ASPCA entry, and check plants we do not cover with the pet-safe plant checker.