{"id":568,"date":"2026-08-08T09:03:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/2026\/08\/08\/pet-safe-indoor-plants\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:03:23","slug":"pet-safe-indoor-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/2026\/08\/08\/pet-safe-indoor-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Pet Safe Indoor Plants for Australian Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A cat batting a leaf off the sideboard or a puppy testing a new pot plant with its teeth is standard household behaviour. Choosing pet safe indoor plants<\/strong> helps you add real greenery without bringing home foliage known to be toxic to cats or dogs. It is a smart starting point for pet households, especially when you are styling a small flat, a family living room or a bright home office.<\/p>\n

\u2018Pet safe\u2019 does not mean edible or indestructible. Any plant material can cause an upset tummy if enough is chewed, while potting mix, fertiliser, pesticides and decorative stones can create their own risks. But selecting plants generally recognised as non-toxic gives you more confidence when you are buying for a home shared with curious pets.<\/p>\n

Start with your pet and your light<\/h2>\n

Before picking a plant for its colour or size, look at where it will live. A plant that needs bright, indirect light will not stay happy in a dim hallway, no matter how safe it is for your dog. Likewise, a trailing plant within reach of an energetic kitten may need a hanging pot rather than a spot on a low shelf.<\/p>\n

For homes with serious chewers, placement still matters. Put plants on a high bookcase, in a sturdy plant stand, or use hanging pots with secure fittings. This reduces leaf damage, tipped-over pots and the chance of your pet eating soil after a recent repot.<\/p>\n

If you think your pet has eaten a plant and seems unwell, contact your vet or an emergency animal clinic promptly. Keep the plant label or take a clear photo with you. It makes identification much easier.<\/p>\n

12 pet safe indoor plants worth buying<\/h2>\n

1. Areca palm<\/h3>\n

Areca palms bring an instant tropical look to lounges, bedrooms and bright entryways. Their soft, arching fronds work well in larger pots and suit homes that get filtered light for much of the day. Keep the mix lightly moist through warmer months, but do not let the pot sit in water.<\/p>\n

2. Parlour palm<\/h3>\n

A parlour palm is a better fit when your room has lower to medium light and limited floor space. It grows more slowly than an areca palm and has a neat, upright shape that works beside a sofa or desk. Water once the top layer of mix has dried out.<\/p>\n

3. Kentia palm<\/h3>\n

For a taller statement plant without a fussy care routine, a kentia palm is hard to beat. It handles average indoor conditions well and brings height to corners with bright, indirect light. Give it space around the fronds, as constant brushing past can cause brown tips and damaged leaves.<\/p>\n

4. Bamboo palm<\/h3>\n

Despite the name, this is a palm rather than true bamboo. Bamboo palms have fine, feathery foliage and are a useful option for creating a softer screen in a well-lit room. They prefer consistent watering and appreciate extra humidity during dry indoor periods.<\/p>\n

5. Spider plant<\/h3>\n

Spider plants are classic, affordable and ideal for newer plant owners. Their striped, grassy leaves look great on shelves or in hanging pots, and mature plants produce little plantlets that you can propagate. They prefer bright, indirect light but can cope with slightly lower light than many variegated plants.<\/p>\n

6. Boston fern<\/h3>\n

Boston ferns give bathrooms, laundries and shaded bright rooms a lush, full look. The trade-off is moisture: they dislike drying out completely and can shed leaves when indoor air is hot and dry. Choose one if you are happy to check the potting mix regularly rather than forgetting it for weeks.<\/p>\n

7. Bird\u2019s nest fern<\/h3>\n

Bird\u2019s nest ferns have broad, wavy leaves that make a strong feature without needing harsh sun. They suit warm rooms with indirect light and like moisture around them. Water the potting mix rather than pouring water directly into the centre rosette, which can encourage rot.<\/p>\n

8. Calathea<\/h3>\n

Calatheas are bought for their patterned foliage, from pinstripes to rich purple leaf undersides. They are a good pet-friendly alternative when you want a colourful foliage plant, but they are not the most forgiving choice. Keep them away from direct afternoon sun, use filtered water if your tap water is hard, and avoid letting the soil become bone dry.<\/p>\n

9. Maranta, or prayer plant<\/h3>\n

Prayer plants have oval leaves with striking veins and a lower, spreading habit. At night, their leaves often fold upwards, which makes them especially interesting on a desk or side table. They prefer bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil, so they suit owners who enjoy a regular care routine.<\/p>\n

10. Peperomia<\/h3>\n

Peperomias come in plenty of leaf shapes, colours and textures, including glossy green, rippled and watermelon-style varieties. Many stay compact, making them a practical buy for apartments, workspaces and crowded shelves. Their thicker leaves hold some moisture, so they are generally more forgiving than ferns or calatheas.<\/p>\n

11. African violet<\/h3>\n

Want flowers rather than foliage? African violets offer compact rosettes and repeated blooms in purple, pink, white and blue tones. Place them in bright, indirect light and water the soil carefully from below or around the edge of the pot. Wet foliage can mark easily.<\/p>\n

12. Moth orchid<\/h3>\n

Moth orchids add a polished finish to dining tables, consoles and home offices. Their long-lasting flowers make them feel like a special purchase, but care is simpler than many people expect. Use an orchid potting mix, let excess water drain fully, and keep them out of hot direct sun.<\/p>\n

Pet safe indoor plants by room<\/h2>\n

A bright living room can handle a kentia palm, areca palm, spider plant or moth orchid. In a gentler-light bedroom, look to a parlour palm, peperomia or calathea. Bathrooms with natural light are prime territory for Boston ferns and bird\u2019s nest ferns because humidity is usually higher.<\/p>\n

For a rental or compact unit, choose smaller plants that can move with you: peperomias, prayer plants, African violets and young spider plants are easy to position without committing to a huge floor pot. If you have a large open-plan space, a palm can make a bigger visual difference with only one well-chosen plant.<\/p>\n

Plants to avoid mixing up with pet-friendly picks<\/h2>\n

Plant names can be confusing, and common names are not always reliable. This matters when browsing online or picking up a plant without a label. A true bamboo palm is different from lucky bamboo, for example. Likewise, a bird\u2019s nest fern is not the same plant as asparagus fern, which is best avoided around pets.<\/p>\n

Some popular indoor plants are toxic if chewed, including lilies, sago palms, peace lilies, devil\u2019s ivy, philodendrons, monsteras, ZZ plants and snake plants. They are common in Australian homes because they are attractive and often easy-care, but they are not the right choice for a household with a cat or dog likely to nibble foliage. Cats are particularly vulnerable to lilies, so do not take chances with unidentified bouquets or plants.<\/p>\n

Always check the botanical name and current pet-safety information before buying, particularly if the plant is for a home with birds, rabbits or reptiles as well as cats and dogs. Safety guidance can differ by animal.<\/p>\n

Keep the whole set-up pet conscious<\/h2>\n

The plant is only one part of the decision. Use a heavy pot with a stable base for large palms, and skip loose decorative pebbles if your pet likes to swallow small objects. Keep fertiliser, pruning tools and pest treatments in a cupboard rather than beside your plants.<\/p>\n

For pest control, begin with simple habits: inspect new plants<\/a>, wipe leaves clean, remove damaged foliage and isolate plants with signs of pests. If treatment is needed, follow the product directions carefully and keep pets out of the area until it is safe. Never assume a natural product is automatically pet-safe.<\/p>\n

A home with pets does not need to be a plant-free home. Start with one suitable plant in the right light, give it a secure spot, and build your indoor jungle from there – one leaf, one paw and one successful purchase at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shop pet safe indoor plants for Australian homes, including low-light foliage and bright-room picks, with practical care and placement advice for pets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":569,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured.webp",1536,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured-150x150.webp",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured-300x200.webp",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured-768x512.webp",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured-1024x683.webp",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured.webp",1536,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-pet-safe-indoor-plants-for-australian-homes-featured.webp",1536,1024,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Fernando Giaimo","author_link":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/author\/buymyplants\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Shop pet safe indoor plants for Australian homes, including low-light foliage and bright-room picks, with practical care and placement advice for pets.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buymyplants.com.au\/_home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}