Pet-Toxic Houseplants

November 29th, 2022

   Lots of new houseplants (gift and otherwise) show up in living rooms this time of year, which can spell bad news for curious pets. And I’m not talking poinsettias either.

Cyclamens are popular Christmas-season plants, but they’re toxic to cats and dogs.

   Many popular holiday plants are toxic to dogs and cats, including peace lily, amaryllis, mistletoe, cyclamen, and lilies, says Anastasia Zygarowicz, who writes the Leaf and Paw blog.

   She urges pet-owners to avoid those choices in favor of safer options – or at least be a “helicopter parent” to make sure toxic plants stay out of the mouths of pets.

   She lists Christmas cactus, moth orchids, frosty ferns, Norfolk Island pine, and even the poinsettia (often thought to be toxic) as some of the least-toxic holiday plants.

   Zygarowicz is a self-described “animal-lover and plant-hoarder” who started researching pets and plant toxicity after her cat got sick from eating a dracaena.

   She says that while some pets have no interest in eating plants, others will at least sample most anything.

   What she’s learned is that in either case, don’t trust any pet, and don’t put complete trust in training or repellents because pets often act on impulse.

   “Everything can be toxic if it’s consumed in excess,” Zygarowicz said in a Great Grow Along webinar on the topic. “In general, don’t let your pets eat any of your plants. They should be eating other things.”

   Her leading strategy is to keep plants and pets apart, such as by using plant stands or displaying plants on shelves or in hanging baskets.

   “Make your plants less accessible,” Zygarowicz says. “Rearrange them or hang them. Get rid of the toxic ones, or put them in a room where the pet doesn’t go. If you need to have toxic plants, make sure they’re out of reach.”

   The good news is that few plants are toxic enough to cause serious trouble with just a nibble.

   However, Zygarowicz says that whenever in doubt, call your vet or a pet/poison hotline ASAP.

Symptoms of plant poisoning can include nausea, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and shaking.

   Two emergency call lines are the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 and the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Consultation fees usually apply at both.

   Zygarowicz also offers a list of her 10 favorite non-toxic plants for pet-owners: peperomia, calathea, hoya, most succulents, spider plant, ferns, African violet, moth orchid, pilea, and banana trees.

   Her top-10 plants to avoid for pet-owners are: pothos, monstera, ficus, dracaena, dieffenbachia, sago palm, ZZ plant, string of pearls, oxalis, and alocasia.

See ASPCA’s list of poisonous plants

Read George’s post on why poinsettias aren’t toxic… even though a lot of people think they are