Houseplants bring life and color indoors, but not all greenery is pet-friendly. Some of the most popular plants sold in garden centers are actually toxic to cats and dogs.
A single nibble can mean drooling, stomach upset, or worse. If you share your space with pets, it pays to know which plants are safe—and which could spell trouble.
1. Sago Palm – Deadly Beauty in a Pot
This prehistoric-looking plant isn’t a palm at all, but a cycad from tropical Asia and Japan.
Its glossy fronds look harmless, yet they hide cycasin, a toxin that causes vomiting, seizures, liver failure, and often death in dogs and cats.
Sadly, many pets don’t survive Sago poisoning. It’s a favorite ornamental plant, but if you’ve got animals in your home, this is one “palm” that doesn’t belong anywhere near them.
2. Aloe Vera – Healing for Humans, Harmful for Pets
Aloe Vera is a classic on kitchen windowsills, loved for its fleshy, spear-shaped leaves filled with cooling gel.
The gel inside is generally safe for topical use, but the latex just under the skin contains saponins and anthraquinones that can upset a pet’s digestive system.
Cats and dogs that chew aloe may wind up miserable, and in large amounts, dangerously dehydrated. Keep the aloe for yourself—it’s handy for people, but nothing but trouble for your pets.
3. ZZ Plant – The Indestructible, But Toxic Trendsetter
The ZZ plant is the definition of “low-maintenance chic,” with waxy leaves that stay shiny even in dim apartments.
Unfortunately, it’s loaded with calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Pets that chew on it may paw at their face or refuse food due to mouth pain.
While ZZ plants won Instagram fame for being nearly unkillable, they’re definitely not pet-friendly. It’s best to admire this glossy green from afar—or keep it on a high shelf.
4. Oleander – Poison in Every Leaf
Native to the Mediterranean, oleander thrives in warm climates and is often grown indoors in cooler regions. Every single part of the plant contains cardiac glycosides, compounds that can disrupt the heart’s rhythm.
Pets that chew oleander may suffer from drooling, abdominal pain, tremors, and potentially fatal cardiac arrest.
People have even died after making skewers from oleander sticks. Gorgeous but lethal, oleander is one houseplant that’s best admired only from a distance.
5. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) – The Tongue-Tying Plant
Dieffenbachia is a tropical favorite in homes and offices for its broad, patterned leaves. But if a curious pet takes a bite, they’ll get a mouthful of calcium oxalate crystals that feel like tiny shards of glass.
The irritation can cause swelling of the tongue and throat so severe that it interferes with breathing.
Its nickname “Dumb Cane” comes from stories of people temporarily losing the ability to speak after chewing the plant. Beautiful? Yes. Safe? Not at all.
6. Philodendron – The Classic That Bites Back
This South American native is a mid-century design staple, with trailing vines or bold split leaves. But inside that lush greenery lurk calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the tongue and throat.
Pets that chew a philodendron often drool, paw at their mouths, or refuse food. Severe cases can cause swelling that interferes with breathing.
While the philodendron has earned a permanent spot in houseplant history, it’s a dangerous choice for households with curious cats and dogs.
7. Pothos (Devil’s Ivy) – Tough Plant, Tough Consequences
Beloved by beginners, pothos is a nearly unkillable plant that thrives in dim light and inconsistent watering. Unfortunately, it shares the same needle-like calcium oxalates as philodendrons.
Even a few chewed leaves can cause throat swelling and painful irritation. Cats and dogs may yelp, paw at their faces, or suddenly refuse food after chewing.
It’s easy to see why pothos got the nickname “Devil’s Ivy”—it’s tough, invasive, and hellish for pets that get too close.
8. Snake Plant – Stylish but Sickening
Also called “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue,” this West African plant became the go-to décor for modern homes thanks to its tall, sword-shaped leaves and low maintenance needs.
But hidden inside are saponins, natural chemicals that irritate the digestive system. While rarely fatal, a few bites can leave cats or dogs with hours of stomach distress.
Snake plants might purify air for people, but for pets, they’re a one-way ticket to an upset tummy.
9. Peace Lily – Not So Peaceful for Pets
The Peace Lily, with its elegant white blooms, is a favorite for offices and living rooms. But despite its name, it’s anything but peaceful for pets.
Unlike true lilies, which are deadly to cats, Peace Lilies contain calcium oxalates that irritate the mouth and throat.
Pets that chew them often drool, whine, or vomit. Though usually not fatal, the discomfort can be intense. The Peace Lily symbolizes harmony—but in a pet household, it’s pure chaos.
10. Chinese Evergreen – A Beauty That Burns
A superstar in low-light corners, Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) hails from tropical Asia and is prized for its colorful foliage.
Unfortunately, it packs the same calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense irritation when chewed. Pets may drool excessively, gag, or show signs of throat swelling.
While it won’t usually be fatal, it’s definitely a trip to the vet. For plant lovers, Chinese Evergreen adds flair. For pets, it adds nothing but pain.
11. Caladium – The Colorful but Cruel Plant
Known for its arrow-shaped foliage splashed with reds, pinks, and whites, Caladium is native to South America and often called “Angel Wings.”
Despite its beauty, it’s loaded with calcium oxalate crystals that cause sharp oral pain, drooling, and difficulty swallowing in pets.
Severe cases may even restrict breathing. Gardeners love caladium for its dramatic flair, but pets quickly learn it’s a plant they should have never tasted.
12. Cyclamen – Pretty Blooms with a Nasty Bite
This winter-blooming favorite brightens homes with cheerful pink, red, and white flowers.
The danger lurks underground—tuberous roots are rich in triterpenoid saponins, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, and, in extreme cases, seizures or death. Even nibbling the leaves or flowers may upset your pet’s stomach.
Cyclamen may look like the perfect holiday centerpiece, but it’s anything but festive if you share your home with four-legged friends.
13. Daffodils – Spring Cheer, Hidden Fear
Daffodils signal springtime with their golden trumpets, but beneath the soil hides their biggest danger.
The bulbs are packed with lycorine, a toxin that can cause violent vomiting, abdominal pain, and cardiac arrhythmias in pets.
Even chewing the green parts can bring on stomach upset. While beautiful in bouquets and planters, daffodils are a serious hazard for curious cats and dogs that dig into the dirt or chew the stems.
14. Tulips – Popular but Problematic
Tulips are one of America’s most popular flowers, often sold in pots or as cut arrangements in the spring.
Unfortunately, their bulbs contain tulipalin A and B, toxins that irritate the mouth, cause drooling, and lead to nausea and vomiting.
Dogs that dig in garden soil are most at risk, but even a bouquet can spell trouble for cats. Tulips may brighten your living room, but they can dim your pet’s day fast.
15. Irises – Beautiful but Bitter
With their sword-like leaves and striking purple blooms, irises are a gardener’s delight.
But all parts of the plant—especially the rhizomes—contain irisin and other irritants that upset the digestive system. Pets that chew iris leaves or roots may suffer stomach pain, vomiting, or excessive salivation.
While not usually fatal, it’s a miserable experience for your furry friend. The iris may symbolize hope and wisdom, but for pets, it only brings regret.
16. Bird of Paradise – Exotic Looks, Toxic Core
Straight out of South Africa, this plant is a showstopper with its crane-like orange and blue blooms. But don’t let the beauty fool you—hydrocyanic acid and tannins lurk in its seeds and foliage.
Pets that chew on it may suffer nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, or eye irritation.
While it won’t usually kill, it can knock your furry friend off their feet fast. A little paradise for you, a potential nightmare for them.
17. Jade Plant – The Money Tree That Costs Too Much
Native to South Africa, the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is a favorite “good luck” succulent, often gifted for housewarmings. But for pets, it’s pure bad luck.
Chewing on its fleshy, coin-shaped leaves can lead to lethargy, vomiting, and loss of balance. In severe cases, heart rhythm disturbances have been reported.
This “money plant” may symbolize wealth and fortune, but if your dog or cat eats it, you’ll be spending your fortune at the vet.
18. Fiddle-Leaf Fig – Instagram’s Darling, Pets’ Enemy
The Fiddle-Leaf Fig has become the crown jewel of trendy living rooms everywhere.
Towering with glossy violin-shaped leaves, it photographs beautifully—but it’s packed with calcium oxalate crystals.
Pets that chew a leaf may paw frantically at their mouths, drool excessively, or vomit. Though rarely deadly, it’s deeply unpleasant for them. While this fig may elevate your home design, it lowers your pet’s quality of life in a hurry.
19. English Ivy – The Classic Climber That Bites Back
Often grown indoors in hanging baskets or as groundcover outside, English Ivy’s dark green leaves are instantly recognizable.
Unfortunately, they’re loaded with triterpenoid saponins that irritate both the digestive and respiratory systems. Pets that munch on ivy may experience vomiting, abdominal pain, or labored breathing.
Long admired for its timeless beauty, this ivy is better suited for college campuses than coffee tables with curious cats or dogs nearby.
20. Pencil Cactus (Firestick Plant) – A Toxic Torch in a Pot
Despite the name, Pencil Cactus isn’t a true cactus—it’s a succulent from the Euphorbia family, also called the Firestick Plant for its fiery red stems.
Break a branch, and you’ll see a milky latex sap that causes severe mouth irritation, vomiting, and even eye damage if pets rub it in.
Some people develop painful skin burns just from touching it. Though trendy and dramatic in modern décor, this is one houseplant that belongs far away from curious paws and noses.
21. Kalanchoe – The Blooming Danger
This succulent is native to Madagascar and is a staple in garden centers, especially around the holidays. Its clusters of pink, orange, or red blooms make it a gift favorite.
But beneath the beauty, it contains bufadienolides, compounds that disrupt the heart’s normal rhythm.
Pets that nibble Kalanchoe may start with vomiting and diarrhea, but severe cases can lead to dangerous cardiac complications. It may be called “Mother of Millions,” but for pets, one bite is too many.
22. Rubber Plant – Shiny Leaves, Serious Trouble
With its glossy leaves and easy care, the Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) is a household classic.
But if your cat or dog chews a leaf, the milky latex sap can cause oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting. The sap is also a skin irritant, sometimes causing rashes in people.
While it won’t usually be fatal, this “easy plant” makes life anything but easy for pets.
23. Hydrangea – Pretty Blooms, Poisonous Bite
Those big, mophead flowers look like summer in a vase, but they’re hiding a deadly trick.
When chewed, hydrangea leaves and blooms release cyanide compounds that can cause drooling, vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea in pets. While death is rare, the symptoms can be severe, and small pets are especially at risk.
Hydrangeas might brighten up a room or bouquet, but they’ll darken a pet’s day very quickly.
24. Autumn Crocus – The Deadly Impostor
Don’t confuse this beauty with spring crocus. The Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) contains colchicine, a potent toxin.
Pets that ingest any part of the plant may experience violent vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney damage, and bone marrow suppression.
Symptoms can appear hours later and last for days, often with fatal results. While admired for its delicate lavender blooms, this plant is one of the most dangerous you could ever bring indoors.
25. Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant) – Trendy Leaves, Tough Consequences
Monstera is the darling of modern décor, with dramatic, holey leaves that steal the show.
Like many aroids, it’s loaded with insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral pain, drooling, and vomiting if pets chew the leaves or stems.
Not usually fatal, but very uncomfortable—this Instagram icon looks great on a shelf, not in a pet’s mouth.
Thanks for reading!
Bringing greenery into your home doesn’t mean putting pets at risk. Choosing safe, non-toxic plants is the key to keeping your home both beautiful and pet-friendly.
Now that you know which common houseplants are dangerous, you can decorate with confidence. Your pets depend on you to keep their world safe—so let the dangerous plants stay on the nursery shelf.