Low-Light Plants That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs

Pet owners with darker homes face a double filter: many of the classic low-light houseplants — pothos, philodendron, peace lily, ZZ plant, dieffenbachia — contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate a cat's or dog's mouth and stomach. The good news is that a solid group of shade-tolerant species is flagged non-toxic, so you can green up a hallway, a north-facing bedroom or a dim corner without worrying every time a pet takes a curious bite.

Low light still means some light. These plants cope with a spot a few metres from a window or behind a sheer curtain, but none of them grows in a windowless room without a grow light. Expect slower growth and water less often than you would in a bright spot, because soil dries more slowly in shade — overwatering is the most common way low-light plants fail. Palms such as parlour palm and bamboo palm, cast-iron plant, peperomias and ferns are typical of what you will find below. Even non-toxic plants can cause mild stomach upset if a pet eats a lot of leaves, so discourage chewing all the same.