Dozens of common houseplants and garden plants are toxic to cats and dogs, ranging from mildly irritating to potentially fatal. Plants and fungi accounted for 8.1% of all pet poison exposures reported to the ASPCA in 2024, making them one of the top categories. Some of these plants are so common you probably have one in your home or yard right now.
The Most Dangerous Plants for Pets
Not all toxic plants carry equal risk. A few can cause organ failure or death even in small amounts, and these deserve special attention.
Lilies are the single biggest plant threat to cats. True lilies, including Asiatic lilies, Easter lilies, and daylilies, cause severe kidney damage in cats by destroying the cells lining the kidney’s filtering tubes. Every part of the plant is dangerous: petals, leaves, pollen, even the water in the vase. A cat that chews on a single leaf or gets pollen on its fur and grooms it off can develop kidney failure within 24 to 72 hours. Dogs are far less sensitive to lilies, but cats should never be in a home with them.
Sago palms are extremely dangerous to dogs. These popular landscaping and indoor plants produce a toxin called cycasin that attacks the liver. Gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea can appear within 24 hours, but liver damage may not become apparent for one to two days after that. The mortality rate in dogs who develop clinical signs is roughly 32%, making sago palms one of the deadliest plants a dog can encounter. The seeds (sometimes called “nuts”) contain the highest concentration of toxin, but every part of the plant is poisonous.
Oleander contains compounds called cardiac glycosides that disrupt the heart’s electrical signaling in both cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause dangerous heart rhythm changes, a dramatically slowed heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Even small amounts of oleander leaf or flower can be life-threatening.
Common Houseplants That Cause Irritation
A large group of popular indoor plants contain tiny, needle-shaped crystals called insoluble calcium oxalates. When a pet chews on these plants, the crystals embed in the mouth, tongue, and throat, causing immediate pain, drooling, pawing at the face, and sometimes vomiting. The symptoms are usually uncomfortable rather than life-threatening, but they can be distressing for your pet and occasionally cause enough swelling to make swallowing difficult.
The list of calcium oxalate plants is long and includes many of the trendiest houseplants:
- Pothos (devil’s ivy)
- Philodendrons of all varieties
- Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)
- Peace lilies (not a true lily, but still toxic)
- Calla lilies
- Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
- Caladium (elephant ears)
- Chinese evergreen
- Arrowhead plant
Peace lilies and pothos were among the top 10 plants the ASPCA received the most poison calls about. Because the pain is immediate, most pets stop chewing quickly, which limits how much they ingest. Still, these plants are worth keeping out of reach or replacing entirely if you have a pet that likes to nibble on greenery.
Garden and Yard Plants to Watch For
Azaleas and rhododendrons contain grayanotoxins that affect the nervous system and heart. Even a few leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and in severe cases, heart rhythm problems. These shrubs are everywhere in temperate landscapes, so pets with yard access should be monitored around them.
Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are most toxic in their bulbs. Tulip bulbs contain irritating compounds called tulipalins, while daffodil bulbs are rich in alkaloids that cause intense nausea. A dog that digs up and chews on freshly planted bulbs is the most common scenario. If only leaves or petals are eaten, symptoms are usually limited to mild or moderate stomach upset.
Hydrangeas contain compounds that can release cyanide when metabolized, making them potentially very dangerous if a pet eats a significant amount. Lantana, a colorful flowering shrub common in warm climates, can in rare cases cause liver failure in both cats and dogs. Hostas, a favorite shade garden plant, cause vomiting and diarrhea when eaten.
What to Do if Your Pet Eats a Toxic Plant
Speed matters. If you see your pet chewing on a plant you suspect is toxic, or you find chewed leaves alongside symptoms like drooling, vomiting, or lethargy, call your veterinarian or an emergency vet clinic right away. If you can’t reach a vet, the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline (888-426-4435) and Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) are available 24/7 and can walk you through next steps.
Try to identify the plant and estimate how much your pet ate and when. Bring a piece of the plant with you if you go to the vet. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian or poison control specifically tells you to. Inducing vomiting is sometimes the right call but can be harmful or counterproductive depending on the plant and the situation.
With calcium oxalate plants like pothos or philodendron, rinsing your pet’s mouth gently with water can help ease the immediate discomfort. With more dangerous plants like lilies (for cats) or sago palms (for dogs), treatment within the first few hours dramatically improves the odds of a good outcome.
Pet-Safe Plants You Can Use Instead
If you want greenery in a home with pets, plenty of attractive options are confirmed non-toxic to both cats and dogs. The ASPCA maintains a searchable database, but some of the most popular safe choices include:
- Spider plant: easy to grow, tolerates low light, and safe if nibbled
- Boston fern: lush and pet-friendly
- Parlor palm: gives a tropical look without the danger of sago palms
- African violet: adds color and is completely non-toxic
- Christmas cactus: a safe alternative to poinsettias during the holidays
- Phalaenopsis orchid (moth orchid): elegant and harmless to pets
- Baby rubber plant: a compact, pet-safe option often confused with toxic rubber tree varieties
- Echeveria and donkey’s tail: safe succulents for bright windowsills
One important note: “rubber plant” can refer to several different species. The baby rubber plant (Peperomia) is safe, but the common rubber tree (Ficus elastica) is mildly toxic. Always verify a plant’s exact species before assuming it’s safe. The ASPCA’s online toxic and non-toxic plant database lets you search by common name and filter by species, which is the most reliable free tool available.