Gaia Flowers, Plants & Gifts

Gaia Flowers, Plants and Gifs is a local Las Vegas flower shop that offers same day flower delivery and wedding bouquets and florals. Gaia provides floral arrangements for birthdays, anniversaries, funerals and many more occasions.

  Order by Noon for Same Day Flower Delivery

6 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89104

702.997.0222

Gaia Flowers, Plants & Gifts Menu   ≡ ╳
  • Home
  • About
    • About Gaia Flowers
    • The Gaia Journals
    • FAQ
  • Flowers
    • All Flowers
    • Wedding
      • Wedding Bouquets
      • Corsages and Boutonnières
      • Centerpieces and Decor
    • By Occasion
      • Anniversary
      • Birthdays
      • Get Well
      • Graduation
      • I’m Sorry
      • Love and Romance
      • New Baby
      • Sympathy and Funeral
      • Thank You
      • Thinking of You
    • Seasonal/Holidays
    • Centerpieces
    • Events
    • Flower Subscription
  • Plants
  • Gifts
  • Weddings
  • Contact
Home / The Gaia Journals / Flower Shop / Plant Tips / 12 pet-friendly plants that grow well indoors
You are here: Home / The Gaia Journals / Flower Shop / Plant Tips / 12 pet-friendly plants that grow well indoors

Plant Tips

12 pet-friendly plants that grow well indoors

Cute ginger cat sniffs indoors plants. Flower pots with Crassula and Sansevieria.

Houseplant inspiration for owners of curious, plant-nibbling cats and dogs

Indoor plants add life, vibrancy, and color to a home, and improve mental and physical health. And while there are lots of fantastic indoor plants to choose from, not all of them are pet friendly. Some houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs. They can cause illness (or worse) if they decide to chow down on them.

Keeping your cat, dog, or other furry critter safe is easy. All you need is some time to do a bit of research and this guide, which covers:

  • the pet-friendly plants that grow well indoors
  • common toxic house plants you should avoid
  • tips to stop pets munching plants
  • common symptoms of poisoning
  • getting help if your pet is unwell.

We’ve also included a toxic plant checker that’s worth bookmarking.

12 indoor plants that are pet safe

Here are a dozen pet-friendly plants that are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Variety of Bromeliad plants in colorful flower pots on white background.1. Bromeliads

These tough plants enjoy tropical climates. And despite the bright colors of its flowers, which could be mistaken as a warning, they’re completely harmless.

Purple African Violet isolated on white background with the whole flowerpot2. African Violet

The African Violet may look cool, but this flowering indoor plant enjoys warm temperatures and a little humidity. It also thrives and flowers in low light. You may hear it being called Cape Marigold or its scientific name, Saintpaulia.

Baby Rubber Plant Dark green leaves in a gray pot 3. American rubber plant ‘Peperomia obtusifolia’

Featuring broad, dark green rubbery leaves with a fleshy look, curious cats and dogs find these plants irresistible. Fortunately, the leaves and stem of the American Rubber Plant (also known as Pepper Face or Baby Rubber Plant) are pet friendly.

Decorative Areca Palm tree isolated on white background4. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Add some tropical vibes to your home with an Areca Palm. Its long, leafy fronds are bound to attract the attention of playful pets, but that’s OK because it’s non-toxic. Place in a sunny area and only water once the soil has dried out.

bamboo in a pot isolated on white background5. Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

Phyllostachys aurea is safe for cats and dogs. While we don’t recommend adding it to their dinner, true bamboo shouldn’t give your four-legged friend too many problems if they ingest a leaf or two. But not every plant we call “bamboo” is pet-safe, so make sure you check before you bring one home.

bamboo tree in pot culture on white background6. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

The thin but plentiful fronds of the bamboo palm are great for filling empty space. They’re known for growing tall and being a good indoor plant for low-light homes. You may also hear them being called Parlor Palms or Good Luck Palms.

Boston fern in a pot isolated on white background7. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

The Boston Fern is one of the few ferns that are pet friendly. And when left to grow wild and free, they look great in hanging pots. For indoors, place your pot in a macramé hanger for a softer style.

Many pots of christmas cactus on a white background8. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgessii)

Like all good succulents, the Christmas Cactus needs little attention. Dry conditions, some sunlight, and occasional watering will bring out the best of this flowering indoor plant.

Earthenware pot and freshness leaves of Echeveria plant9. Echeveria ssp

While we’re on the subject of succulents, a pet-friendly variety you can rely on is the Echeveria family. The beautiful rosette shape of these looks great in individual pots or a larger indoor terrarium. They’re also easy to propagate.

Haworthia plant in a pot on white background10. Haworthia ssp

The attractive striped pattern on Haworthia may catch your dog or cat’s attention, but hopefully the spiky shape will put them off nibbling this small succulent.

Pachira aquatica or money tree on white background11. Money Tree  (Pachira Aquatica)

Money Trees enjoy bright rooms, indirect sunlight and infrequent watering. If you don’t want your tree to dominate your indoor room, keep it small and neat with frequent pruning.

Spider plant in black pot on white background

12. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Brighten up your kitchen, bathroom, or living room with a spider plant. Their light green and white leaves and playful airy nature add life and movement. The best bit? Spider plants are easy to grow indoors and require little maintenance.

Toxic house plants you should avoid

Sadly, some of the most popular, easy-to-care-for, air-purifying plants are toxic to cats and dogs. These include:

  • Ivy/Pothos (Golden or Devil’s Ivy)
  • Philodendron
  • Snake Plant
  • Sago Palms
  • Peace Lily
  • ZZ Plant.

A single plant can go by several different names. They have a scientific name, as well as the everyday name we call them. They can even have multiple nicknames. To make sure there’s no confusion, it’s always worth double checking whether a plant is pet-safe or not.

Checking which plants are safe

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a poisonous plant checker. It’s an extensive list of indoor and outdoor plants that are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. If you have any doubts, type the name of the plant you want to check in the search box. Using the scientific name is more accurate. You’ll quickly see whether or not you’ve got a pet-friendly house plant on your hands.

Signs your dog or cat may have eaten a toxic plant

How your dog or cat reacts after eating a toxic plant depends on:

  • what they’ve eaten
  • how much they’ve eaten
  • the breed
  • their age
  • any existing medical conditions.

Signs your four-legged critter has chowed down on your plants include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and drooling. More severe symptoms of plant poisoning are seizures, fits, foaming at the mouth, problems breathing, organ failure, and lethargy.

If you think your cat or dog has munched on something they shouldn’t have (plant or otherwise), contact your local vet or the Animal Poison Control at 888.426.4435.

Play it safe. Stop your pets from eating plants

Even plants considered pet-safe can potentially cause trouble if your furry friend eats it in large quantities. To avoid damage and loss of your indoor plant babies, do your pet and your plant a favor. Keep them out of reach of each other.

Putting them up high where animals can’t get at them is a good rule of thumb. If you’re a cat owner this may be easier said than done. But if you have a dog, you may want to consider training so they learn that plants are off the menu.

Armed with this knowledge you can shop for indoor plants with confidence. Put together a list of the plants you’re interested in, and we’ll be happy to help you find them in our store.

Share this...
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Tumblr
  • Stumbleupon
  • Email
  • Print


About Peter Frigeri

Horticulturist. Entrepreneur. Eco-adventurer. Peter Frigeri has been innovating in business since he moved to Las Vegas in 1991 to run trade show operations for Showtime Florists. Just a couple years later, he went out on his own, founding Falcon Floral, and within five years, he evolved that business into Expo Ease. In 2000 he took advantage of technological innovations to expand his company to offer a full suite of event services, from show decor to photography marketing. Meanwhile, in 2009, Peter launched his third business, Gaia Flowers Plants Gifts. With a focus on local and sustainably-grown products, Gaia is also a full-service company, with services ranging from event floral, delivery to commercial plant maintenance. And as if that weren’t enough, Peter is an officer on the boards of two local nonprofits, Great Basin Permaculture and Friends of Gold Butte. In both his personal and professional lives, Peter does everything he can to fight for the preservation of the Earth and its resources, so that his children and grandchildren can enjoy its bounty as much as he does.

« Flowers and fantastic coffee
Everything you need to know about caring for succulents indoors »

Sign up now for a free weekly newsletter. Topics range from plant and flower care to in-store specials and more.


We respect your privacy. Your information will not be shared.

Flower Delivery in Las Vegas & Henderson

Thank you for supporting our small business and shopping locally.

Gaia Flowers offers fresh, sustainable delivered flowers and gorgeous plants available for same-day delivery to most areas of Las Vegas and Henderson. Neighborhoods include Anthem, Arts District, Black Mountain, Calico Ridge, Canyon Gate Master, Charleston Heights, Cultural Corridor Coalition, Desert Shores, Downtown Las Vegas, El Capitan Ranch, Francisco Park, Gibson Springs, Green Valley North, Green Valley Ranch, Green Valley South, Highland Hills, Iron Mountain Ranch, John S. Park, Lone Mountain Village, Lone Mountain Vistas, Long Mountain Heights, Los Prados, MacDonald Highlands, MacDonald Ranch, McCullough Hills, McNeil Estates, Mission Hills, Mountain Trails, Mountain’s Edge, Peccole Ranch, Quail Estates West, Queensridge, Rancho Bel Aire, Rancho Nevada Estates, Rancho Oakey, Rhodes Ranch, River Mountain, Seven Hills, Silver Stone Ranch, Silverado Ranch, Spanish Trails, Southern Highlands, Spring Mountain Ranch, Summerlin, Summerlin West, Sun City Summerlin, The Lakes, The Pueblo, Tule Springs and Whitney Ranch. Whether you have a friend or loved one in Las Vegas celebrating a birthday, graduation or wedding we offer a wide range of flower arrangements and bouquets to send with a free personalized card message.

Gaia Flowers, Plants & Gifts Menu   ≡ ╳
  • About Gaia Flowers
  • Gaia Blog
  • Shop
  • My Account
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions

Sustainably-sourced flowers and gifts for the Las Vegas valley.

Copyright © 2023 · Gaia Flowers · All rights reserved.

🌹 Pre-Order by February 8 for Valentine's Day deliveries. Dismiss

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Gaia Flowers, Plants & Gifts
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.