House plants are a fantastic way to liven up your home decor by adding a natural touch and a splash of color to any room. However, if you’re a pet owner, you’re probably aware that some plants are toxic to your furry friends. The good news is that there are plenty of safe options that look stunning. So, check out our top picks for pet-friendly house plants.

Calathea

All Calathea or prayer plant varieties are safe for cats and dogs. With their stunning range of leaf colors, sizes and patterns, we’re sure you’ll find one that suits your home decor. They grow best in medium light, high humidity and need filtered or distilled water to keep the leaves glossy and healthy.

African Violets

These flowering houseplants are an excellent choice for a pet-friendly home. To keep them happy, place them in bright indirect light and water them when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Then, throughout spring and summer, give them a bit of fertilizer twice a month to encourage abundant flowering.

Palms

Indoor palms can add a veritable touch of luxurious, tropical vibes to your home, and most of them are pet-friendly. Here are a few species that will get along with your pets: Parlour Palm, Areca Palm, Miniature Date Palm and the Ponytail Palm. Steer clear of the Sago Palm, though, as it is toxic to both cats and dogs.

Ferns

Like indoor palms, the vast majority of indoor ferns are safe for pets. Our top picks include Boston Fern, Maidenhair Fern and the Staghorn Fern. These plants thrive in indirect sun and high humidity and make an excellent addition to a bathroom with a window.

Moth Orchids

This may come as a bit of a surprise, but all varieties of Moth or Phalaenopsis Orchids are non-toxic to cats and dogs. The trick to keeping these plants happy is using the right potting soil. A mix of two-parts fir bark, one part perlite and one part sphagnum peat would be perfect for them.

Polka Dot Plant

If you’re looking for a plant that’s small, colorful, beginner-friendly and also non-toxic to pets, the Polka Dot Plant is the answer to your prayers. Keep it in a room with bright indirect light, water it regularly, and you’re all set. Bonus tip: cut the ends of the stems once a month to keep your Polka Dot Plant looking bushy.

Fittonia

Another houseplant that’s both low-maintenance and pet-friendly, Fittonia or the Nerve Plant, stands out due to its compact size and stunning range of leaf colors. This plant loves high humidity and bright indirect light and needs a good soak when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Banana

When it comes to pet-friendly plants that also work as a dramatic centerpiece in your home, the Banana Plant has almost no competition. This exotic giant can easily grow to a height of 7 feet and will need plenty of sunlight, humidity and well-draining soil to reach its full potential.

Spider Plant

An oldie but a goldie, the Spider Plant ticks the boxes for being both pet-friendly and beginner-friendly. Easy to grow indoors, it’s also a great plant to have around due to its air-purifying abilities. As far as we’re concerned, this one is an all-around winner and must-have plant for any home.

Air Plants

Not only are Air Plants non-toxic to cats and dogs, but they also spare you the headache of having to clean up if your pets knock the pots over. That’s right: Air Plants, or Tillandsia, don’t need any soil to grow. Instead, you can either mount them on a wooden display or keep them in an open glass container. To water them, simply dunk them in water once a week, for about 30 minutes. Plant care doesn’t get easier than this!

Peperomia

Peperomia or Rubber Plants are another fantastic choice for a pet-friendly home. The secret to keeping them healthy is bright but indirect sunlight and only watering them when the top two inches of the soil feel dry to the touch.

Hoya

Also known as Wax Plants or Porcelain Flowers, these slow-growing, trailing succulents are safe to grow in a home with cats or dogs. They also produce clusters of small, colorful flowers with delicate chocolate, vanilla, or cinnamon scent. Plant them in a mix of two-parts orchid bark, one part perlite and one part peat, keep them in bright indirect light and water them moderately.

Succulents

Although most pet owners would be wary of having spiky succulents around their cats and dogs, there are many spike-free species you can bring into your home. Blue Echeveria, Buro’s Tail, Opuntia, Christmas Cactus and the Fishbone Cactus are just some of our pet-friendly picks. Or, if you don’t mind something a bit prickly, the Blue Haworthia is another excellent choice.