Keeping your indoor garden safe for pets can be tricky, but it’s definitely possible in Texas homes. These 13 plants are completely safe for cats and dogs while still adding greenery and style.
I’ve added a few to my own space, and my furry friends haven’t had any trouble at all. Bring these plants into your home and enjoy a pet-friendly, lively indoor garden.
1. Spider Plant
Looking for an easy-care option that thrives in Texas homes? Spider plants produce adorable baby offshoots that dangle playfully from the mother plant. They prefer bright, indirect light but adapt well to various conditions.
Many Texas pet owners choose these resilient plants for their air-purifying qualities. Spider plants remove formaldehyde and other toxins while being completely safe if your curious cat or dog takes an exploratory nibble.
2. Boston Fern
Feathery fronds create a lush tropical vibe that works beautifully in humid Texas bathrooms. Boston ferns prefer consistent moisture and indirect light, making them perfect companions for steamy shower spaces.
Unlike some other fern varieties that can harm pets, Boston ferns are completely safe for Texas homes with cats and dogs. Their graceful appearance softens hard edges while providing a touch of natural elegance to any room.
3. Areca Palm
Bring a slice of tropical paradise into your Texas living room with this stunning palm variety. The arching, feathery fronds create dramatic height and texture while remaining completely pet-friendly.
Despite Texas’s sometimes harsh climate, areca palms thrive indoors with bright, filtered light. They’re relatively drought-tolerant once established, making them forgiving if you occasionally forget to water during those busy weekends.
4. Calathea
The stunning leaf patterns on these beauties make them showstoppers in any Texas home. Calatheas perform their own daily dance, raising leaves during the day and lowering them at night in a process called nyctinasty.
Perfect for those hot Texas summers, calatheas appreciate higher humidity levels. Their dramatic foliage comes in various patterns and colors, all completely safe for your furry friends who might be tempted to take an investigative bite.
5. Ponytail Palm
Despite its name, this quirky plant isn’t actually a palm at all! The ponytail palm features a bulbous trunk topped with cascading, ribbon-like leaves that resemble a fountain or ponytail.
Many Texas pet owners love this drought-tolerant beauty for its unique appearance and low maintenance needs. The plant stores water in its trunk, making it perfect for forgetful waterers while remaining completely non-toxic to cats and dogs.
6. African Violet
These charming flowering plants bring a pop of color to Texas homes year-round. Their velvety leaves and delicate blooms in purple, pink, and white create visual interest on any windowsill or tabletop.
Unlike many flowering houseplants, African violets pose no threat to your Texas pets. They prefer bright, indirect light and regular watering from the bottom to avoid leaf spotting, making them perfect for those who enjoy a bit of routine plant care.
7. Staghorn Fern
Looking for something truly unique? Staghorn ferns grow mounted on boards rather than in traditional pots, creating living wall art for your Texas home. Their unusual antler-shaped fronds make them conversation starters.
Perfect for Texas’s humid climate, these epiphytic plants absorb moisture from the air. Unlike some other ferns that can be toxic, staghorns are completely safe if your curious cat or playful pup decides to investigate with their mouth.
8. Bamboo Palm
Create a peaceful zen vibe in your Texas home with these elegant palms featuring delicate, feathery fronds. Bamboo palms thrive in the filtered light conditions common in many homes and apartments.
Texas pet owners appreciate that these air-purifying plants remove benzene and formaldehyde while being non-toxic to cats and dogs. Their moderate size makes them perfect for filling empty corners without overwhelming smaller spaces.
9. Haworthia
Perfect for those sunny Texas windowsills, these cute succulents feature distinctive rosettes of pointed, sometimes striped leaves. Unlike their toxic cousins aloe vera and euphorbias, haworthias are completely pet-safe.
Many Texas plant lovers appreciate haworthias for their drought tolerance and minimal care requirements. Their compact size makes them ideal for small spaces like desks and shelves where they can soak up the abundant Texas sunshine.
10. Rattlesnake Plant
Don’t worry – this plant has nothing to do with actual rattlesnakes that roam Texas! The distinctive wavy leaves with purple undersides and spotted patterns make this calathea variety a stunning addition to any home.
Texas pet owners love that these gorgeous plants purify air while remaining completely non-toxic. They appreciate higher humidity levels, making them perfect companions for bathrooms or kitchens in drier Texas regions.
11. Money Tree
According to feng shui principles, these plants bring good fortune and positive energy to Texas homes. Their distinctive braided trunks topped with umbrella-like leaf formations create architectural interest in any space.
Many Texas pet owners choose money trees for their air-purifying abilities and pet-safe nature. They thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer to dry out slightly between waterings – perfect for the sometimes forgetful plant parent.
12. Peperomia
With over 1,000 varieties, peperomias offer Texas plant lovers endless options for leaf shapes, colors, and patterns. These compact beauties work perfectly on shelves, desks, or as tabletop accents throughout your home.
Many Texas pet owners appreciate that these low-maintenance plants don’t require frequent watering or special care. Their thick, sometimes succulent-like leaves store water effectively, making them forgiving if you occasionally forget to water during busy Texas summers.
13. Christmas Cactus
Unlike their spiny desert cousins that grow wild across Texas, Christmas cacti have smooth, flat segments with no sharp spines. When they bloom, they produce stunning tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, or white.
Texas pet owners love that these holiday favorites are completely non-toxic to cats and dogs. They appreciate bright, indirect light and slightly more frequent watering than desert cacti, making them easy to care for even in Texas’s varying climate conditions.