Pet-Friendly Indoor Jungle: 26 Safe and Beautiful Plants for Your Furry Friends (2024)

Creating a pet-friendly indoor jungle can bring a touch of nature into your home while ensuring the safety of your beloved furry friends. As pet owners know, many common houseplants can be toxic to animals, so it’s essential to choose plants that are safe for pets. Here’s a curated list of 26 beautiful, non-toxic plants to help you design a lush, pet-friendly indoor jungle for 2024.

1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Why It’s Great: The Spider Plant is known for its air-purifying qualities and striking arching leaves. It's easy to care for and safe for pets.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Why It’s Great: This fern adds a lush, green touch to your indoor space. It's non-toxic and helps improve indoor air quality.

Care Tips: Prefers high humidity and indirect light. Keep the soil consistently moist.

3. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

Why It’s Great: A graceful palm that adds elegance to any room. It's pet-safe and thrives in lower light conditions.

Care Tips: Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Enjoys bright, indirect light.

4. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Why It’s Great: With its feathery fronds, the Areca Palm brings a tropical vibe to your indoor jungle. It's safe for pets and easy to care for.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil.

5. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Why It’s Great: This palm is perfect for adding a touch of the tropics to your space. It’s safe for pets and effective at filtering indoor air.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

6. African Violet (Saintpaulia spp.)

Why It’s Great: Known for its vibrant flowers, the African Violet adds color and charm to your indoor garden. It's safe for pets.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and regular watering, keeping the soil slightly moist.

7. Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)

Why It’s Great: The Friendship Plant is appreciated for its unique, textured leaves. It’s safe for pets and easy to grow.

Care Tips: Enjoys bright, indirect light and regular watering. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings.

8. Haworthia (Haworthia spp.)

Why It’s Great: A small, succulent plant that’s perfect for compact spaces. Safe for pets and low-maintenance.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright light and requires infrequent watering. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

9. Calathea (Calathea spp.)

Why It’s Great: Known for its stunning foliage, the Calathea adds visual interest to your indoor jungle. It’s non-toxic to pets.

Care Tips: Prefers indirect light and high humidity. Keep the soil consistently moist.

10. Velvet Leaf (Peperomia spp.)

Why It’s Great: With its soft, velvety leaves, the Velvet Leaf is both attractive and safe for pets.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

11. Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)

Why It’s Great: A bold plant with glossy leaves, the Rubber Tree adds a touch of sophistication to your indoor space. It’s pet-friendly.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and regular watering. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

12. Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia)

Why It’s Great: The Rattlesnake Plant features eye-catching foliage and is safe for pets. It adds a unique touch to your plant collection.

Care Tips: Enjoys bright, indirect light and high humidity. Keep the soil moist.

13. Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)

Why It’s Great: A diverse genus with many varieties, Peperomias are safe for pets and come in various leaf shapes and colors.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

14. Pilea (Pilea spp.)

Why It’s Great: The Pilea is known for its charming, round leaves and is safe for pets. It’s a great addition to any indoor garden.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and moderate watering. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

15. Air Plants (Tillandsia spp.)

Why It’s Great: Air Plants are unique and versatile, adding an artistic touch to your space. They are non-toxic to pets and require minimal care.

Care Tips: Enjoy bright, indirect light and occasional misting or soaking in water.

16. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera spp.)

Why It’s Great: Known for its festive blooms, the Christmas Cactus is safe for pets and adds color to your indoor jungle.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

17. Bamboo (Bambusa spp.)

Why It’s Great: Bamboo adds a touch of Zen to your space and is non-toxic to pets. It grows well indoors and can be a stylish addition.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil.

18. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Why It’s Great: True to its name, the Cast Iron Plant is incredibly hardy and safe for pets. It’s perfect for adding greenery to low-light areas.

Care Tips: Thrives in low to bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

19. Cactus (Cactaceae spp.)

Why It’s Great: Many cacti are pet-friendly and add a sculptural element to your indoor garden. Choose non-toxic varieties for your pet-friendly space.

Care Tips: Enjoys bright, direct light and infrequent watering. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

20. Hoya (Hoya spp.)

Why It’s Great: With its waxy, fragrant leaves and flowers, the Hoya is both beautiful and safe for pets. It adds a touch of elegance to your space.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and infrequent watering. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

21. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.)

Why It’s Great: The Maidenhair Fern is known for its delicate, lacy foliage. It’s safe for pets and adds a touch of grace to your indoor garden.

Care Tips: Enjoys high humidity and indirect light. Keep the soil consistently moist.

22. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus)

Why It’s Great: Swedish Ivy features cascading vines and is safe for pets. It’s a great plant for hanging baskets or shelves.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

23. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Why It’s Great: This classic fern adds a lush, green touch to your indoor space and is non-toxic to pets.

Care Tips: Prefers high humidity and indirect light. Keep the soil consistently moist.

24. Nerve Plant (Fittonia spp.)

Why It’s Great: With its striking leaf patterns, the Nerve Plant is both attractive and safe for pets.

Care Tips: Thrives in bright, indirect light and high humidity. Keep the soil moist.

25. Zz Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Why It’s Great: The ZZ Plant is known for its glossy, dark green leaves and resilience. It’s non-toxic to pets and low-maintenance.

Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and infrequent watering. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

26. Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.)

Why It’s Great: Spiderwort features vibrant foliage and trailing vines. It’s safe for pets and adds a pop of color to your indoor garden.

Care Tips: Enjoys bright, indirect light and regular watering. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings.

Creating a Pet-Friendly Indoor Jungle

Designing a pet-friendly indoor jungle involves more than just choosing the right plants. Here are a few additional tips:

Avoid Toxic Plants: Always double-check that any new plant you introduce is safe for pets.

Secure Plant Pots: Use sturdy pots and consider placing them on high shelves or using plant stands to keep them out of reach of curious pets.

Monitor Plant Health: Regularly check your plants for signs of pests or diseases, and keep them well-maintained to avoid potential issues for your pets.

By selecting the right plants and following these tips, you can create a vibrant, safe, and beautiful indoor jungle that both you and your furry friends will enjoy.