From therapy pets to energizing and mood-boosting plants, this past year saw a dramatic increase in both pet adoptions and plant sales to help inspire happiness. If you find yourself bringing home a new fur baby as well as beautiful greens, or already live in a home with both, it is important to ensure you create a healthy and safe environment for everyone. As both pet and plant lovers, the experts here at Currans Flowers, the top florist in Danvers, are sharing our favorite pet-friendly green plants. Find our list below to see if your favorite, or perhaps a new favorite plant, catches your eye.

Safe Plants for Pets

Spider Plant

Also nicknamed “cat’s whiskers,” spider plants make our list of pet-approved plants for a few reasons. Aside from their most fitting nickname, their non-poisonous grassy leaves are seldom left alone by playful pups and cats who like to bite and bat them. While spider plants are generally harmless to pets, some furry felines may experience an upset stomach after snacking on their leaves. Luckily, hanging these plants is perfect for creating whimsical home decor in addition to keeping them away from our four-legged friends.

Calathea Orbifolia

Great go-to plants include most species of cultivars, which are typically safe for cats, dogs, and even horses. Calathea Orbifolia, commonly known as the zebra or peacock plant, offers interesting, deep hues accredited to their decorative leaves. While this tropical plant thrives in humid environments with indirect sunlight and makes for an excellent air purifier, it will make itself right at home in your bathroom or kitchen.

Boston Fern

While bringing home a Boston Fern for Fido to chew and play with is not recommended, you can still have peace of mind if your curious cat or playful pup sneaks a few nibbles. While their foliage is harmless to our fur babies, these natural humidifiers still do best as hanging plants. Position your Boston Fern in a humid environment with a lot of access to indirect light so it can live its life to the fullest.

Watermelon Peperomia

A brilliant way to eliminate toxins from the air that is also non-toxic to cats and dogs is by hanging a vibrant watermelon peperomia in your home. As their name suggests, their vivid green leaves present a unique pattern of color and texture that resembles the rind of a watermelon. Add a low-maintenance watermelon peperomia to your home décor and houseplant collection for a little summer fun. They thrive best in indirect sunlight and occasional water.

Friendship Plant

A misconception about friendship plants is that since their leaves are velvety soft, they must be poisonous to pets. However, friendship plants are among the safest and friendliest to pets. Their often colorful and always specific pattern created by their veins and sometimes pink buds, make these houseplants another unique addition to your collection. As friendship plants thrive in terrariums, which can act as a safe haven from curious paws, they are ideal for pet-friendly spaces.

Signs of Poisoning in Pets

While we all do our best to keep our pets safe and away from toxic plants, nobody is perfect, and accidents do happen. If your pet begins to show signs, like loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, drooling, or bleeding gums, they may have been exposed to a harmful plant. In this case, it is important to immediately call your veterinarian, poison control, or the nearest animal hospital. For a full list of plants that are toxic to animals, please visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website.