Non-toxic plants for cats and dogs: our list

A cat nibbling a leaf, a puppy tasting anything within reach: when you live with an animal, choosing a houseplant calls for a touch more care. Some very common species irritate the mouth or stomach, others are genuinely dangerous.

For this list, we took the Latin name of every plant sold on our site and checked it, species by species, against the database of the animal poison control centre run by the ASPCA, the American animal welfare association that is the reference on the subject. Here you'll find the By Charlot plants that are non-toxic for cats and dogs, and those to keep well out of reach.

Non-toxic doesn't mean edible

A "non-toxic" plant contains no substance recognised as dangerous to animals. That doesn't mean it can be eaten without consequence: on the pachira's fact sheet, for instance, the ASPCA notes that the plant, while non-toxic, can cause nausea, vomiting and loose stools. The right instinct remains the same: discourage your pet from nibbling your plants, whichever they may be.

The By Charlot plants that are non-toxic for cats and dogs

These six plants are among the species classed as non-toxic for both cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

L'Aviateur, the pachira

L'Aviateur is a Pachira aquatica, with his braided trunk and fan-shaped leaves. Easy-going, he likes light without direct sun and copes better with a missed watering than an excess. You'll find all our advice in our pachira care guide.

The Stunner, the kentia palm

The Stunner is a kentia (Howea forsteriana), a palm with supple, luminously green fronds. She brings height and a touch of the exotic to a room: a lovely alternative to the larger toxic plants for anyone wanting volume.

Le Généreux and Le Magicien, two peperomias

Le Généreux (Peperomia obtusifolia) has round, thick, glossy leaves. Le Magicien (Peperomia argyreia) is easy to spot thanks to its silver-striped leaves, which earn it the nickname watermelon peperomia. Two compact plants, perfect for a desk or shelf.

La Coquette, the haworthia

La Coquette (Haworthia fasciata) is a small succulent with pointed leaves striped in white. She needs very little water and fits in anywhere. A welcome exception: other succulents in our selection, such as La Délicate or The Prankster, are toxic.

Basil, for the kitchen

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is also classified as non-toxic. Basil grows in a small indoor vegetable patch fitted with its own lamp, dressed in a By Charlot ceramic pot.

A word on L’Athlète, our little Opuntia cactus: the ASPCA lists opuntias among non-toxic plants, but their spines and fine prickles can hurt the nose or paws of a curious pet. We therefore keep him somewhere out of reach.

By Charlot plants that are toxic to pets

The following plants are classified as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA, either directly or through a very close species of the same genus. They needn't be banished, but should be placed out of reach, bearing in mind that a cat can climb anywhere: for a cat, only a room it never enters is truly out of reach.

Le Voyageur, the cycad: the most dangerous

Le Voyageur is a Cycas revoluta, often called sago palm. He is by far the most dangerous plant in our selection for a pet. According to the ASPCA, he contains cycasin, which causes vomiting, digestive upset and liver damage that can prove fatal. The American poison control centre Pet Poison Helpline notes that every part of the plant is toxic, the seeds even more so. In a household with a cat or dog, we would advise against choosing him.

The plants that irritate the mouth

These plants contain calcium oxalate crystals. If chewed, they cause irritation and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing:

The Wild One, the monstera (Monstera deliciosa), see our monstera care guide;
Le Fantastique, a philodendron (Philodendron ‘Birkin’);
the aglaonemas L’Admirable, The Ray of Sunshine, La Joyeuse, La Styliste and La Baronne (Aglaonema);
the syngoniums L’Adorable and The Sweetheart (Syngonium);
The Bubbly One, the schefflera (Schefflera arboricola).

Other plants to keep out of reach

La Délicate and The Dreamer, two jade trees (Crassula ovata, which the ASPCA lists under its other name, Crassula argentea): vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination.
The Prankster, a kalanchoe (Kalanchoe tomentosa): vomiting, diarrhoea, more rarely heart rhythm disturbances.
The Bon Vivant, the sansevieria (Sansevieria trifasciata): nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
L’Explorateur, the dragon tree (Dracaena marginata): vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, drooling, dilated pupils in cats.
L’Élégante and Le Diplomate, two ficus (Ficus elastica): the ASPCA classes ficus among toxic plants, as their sap contains irritant substances.
La Nomade, a bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai): the ASPCA classes its close cousin Strelitzia reginae as toxic (nausea, vomiting, drowsiness). As a precaution, treat her the same way.
Le Splendide, a euphorbia (Euphorbia triangularis): like other euphorbias, it contains an irritant milky sap, which the ASPCA flags for the related Euphorbia tirucalli.

What about the other plants in our selection?

Some of our plants, such as L'Extravagante (Zamioculcas), Le Philosophe (the olive tree), The Firecracker (Gasteria) or our cacti The Warm Heart, Le Poète and Le Dandy, don't appear in the ASPCA database, which doesn't claim to be exhaustive. Without a reliable source, we'd rather not present them as safe. If you have a pet, choose in priority from the six non-toxic plants listed above.

Good habits for every day

Pick up fallen leaves, which a puppy or kitten will happily chew on.
Keep fertiliser out of reach, like any care product.
Note down the Latin name of each of your plants: this is the information that will help your vet quickly identify the plant involved.

If your pet has eaten a plant and is showing unusual signs, contact your vet without delay, or one of the two French veterinary poison control centres, reachable every day from 8.30am to midnight:

the CNITV, in Lyon: 04 78 87 10 40;
the CAPAE-Ouest, in Nantes: 02 40 68 77 40.

Follow their instructions rather than improvising a remedy.

Giving a plant to a household with pets

Giving a plant to someone who shares their life with a cat or a dog? Choose it from L'Aviateur, The Stunner, Le Généreux, Le Magicien, La Coquette or Basil, and add a name, a date or a little message on the label. Discover our selection of pet-friendly plants too.

List checked in September 2026 using the ASPCA database. It doesn't replace your vet's advice.