Help with house plants!

troublesome2

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We just bought a plant for our home and found out through internet research it is poisonous to cats, so we went back and the 'garden manager' said that a aglaonema plant should be ok, but have read up a bit on it and some sites say this is poisonous to cats too!!!
So any people with green fingers know of what house plants are safe for cats snd look nice!
 

carolpetunia

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It's amazing how many plants are off-limits! Even some of the most common houseplants are hazardous... we've just given up having live plants altogether. Here's a list I found online... it's from the Cat Fancier's Association, so it should be pretty accurate:


Plants Poisonous to Cats

Almond (Pits of)
Aloe Vera
Alocasia
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apple Leaf Croton
Apricot (Pits of)
Arrowgrass
Asparagus Fern
Autumn Crocus
Avacado (fuit and pit)
Azalea
Baby's Breath
Baneberry
Bayonet
Beargrass
Beech
Belladonna
Bird of Paradise
Bittersweet
Black-eyed Susan
Black Locust
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Box
Boxwood
Branching Ivy
Buckeyes
Buddist Pine
Burning Bush
Buttercup

Cactus, Candelabra
Caladium
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Charming Dieffenbachia
Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves)
Cherry, most wild varieties
Cherry, ground
Cherry, Laurel
Chinaberry
Chinese Evergreen
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineria
Clematis
Cordatum
Coriaria
Cornflower
Corn Plant
Cornstalk Plant
Croton
Corydalis
Crocus, Autumn
Crown of Thorns
Cuban Laurel
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen

Daffodil
Daphne
Datura
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Devil's Ivy
Delphinium
Decentrea
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena Palm
Dragon Tree
Dumb Cane

Easter Lily *
Eggplant
Elaine
Elderberry

Elephant Ear
Emerald Feather
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
Evergreen

Ferns
Fiddle-leaf fig
Florida Beauty
Flax
Four O'Clock
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant

Geranium
German Ivy
Giant Dumb Cane
Glacier IvyGolden Chain
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust Dracaena
Golden Glow
Golden Pothos
Gopher Purge

Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy
Heartland Philodendron
Hellebore
Hemlock, Poison
Hemlock, Water
Henbane
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horsebeans
Horsebrush
Horse Chestnuts
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea

Indian Rubber Plant
Indian Tobacco
Iris
Iris Ivy

Jack in the Pulpit
Janet Craig Dracaena
Japanese Show Lily *
Java Beans
Jessamine
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil
Jungle Trumpets

Kalanchoe

Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily Spider
Lily of the Valley
Locoweed
Lupine

Madagascar Dragon Tree
Marble Queen
Marigold
Marijuana
Mescal Bean
Mexican Breadfruit
Miniature Croton
Mistletoe
Mock Orange
Monkshood
Moonseed
Morning Glory
Mother-in Law's Tongue
Morning Glory
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms

Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephytis
Nightshade

Oleander
Onion
Oriental Lily *

Peace Lily
Peach (pits and wilting leaves)
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pimpernel
Plumosa Fern
Poinciana
Poinsettia (low toxicity)
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Pokeweed
Poppy
Potato
Pothos
Precatory Bean
Primrose
Privet, Common

Red Emerald
Red Princess
Red-Margined Dracaena
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Plant
Rosemary Pea
Rubber Plant

Saddle Leaf Philodendron
Sago Palm
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Scotch Broom
Silver Pothos
Skunk Cabbage
Snowdrops
Snow on the Mountain
Spotted Dumb Cane
Staggerweed
Star of Bethlehem
String of Pearls
Striped Dracaena
Sweetheart Ivy
Sweetpea
Swiss Cheese plant

Tansy Mustard
Taro Vine
Tiger Lily *
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia
Tulip
Tung Tree

Virginia Creeper

Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wild Call
Wisteria

Yews --
e.g. Japanese Yew
English Yew
Western Yew
American Yew
 

crittermom

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I have ALL of my house plants in our bathroom with the door closed at ALL times.So, mine are not in any danger of getting into them.
Do you have anywhere where you can put the plants and them be off limits 24/7?
 

carolpetunia

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Here's another list, from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Bear in mind that some of these plants wouldn't acgtually kill a cat, but only cause gastric upset or numbing of the mouth, things like that -- but still, you wouldn't want them around. And even a "safe" plant, if chewed on, will expose the kitty to whatever chemicals have been used on it. This is why we've come to love our silk plants!


Anyway, here's what the ASPCA says:


A
- Aloe
- Amaryllis
- Andromeda Japonica
- Asian Lily (Liliaceae)
- Asparagus Fern
- Australian Nut
- Autumn Crocus
- Avocado
- Azalea

B
- Bird of Paradise
- American Bittersweet
- European Bittersweet
- Branching Ivy
- Buckeye
- Buddist Pine

C
- Caladium
- Calla Lily
- Castor Bean
- Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron)
- Charming
Diffenbachia
- Chinaberry Tree
- Chinese Evergreen
- Christmas Rose
- Clematis
- Cordatum
- Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant)
- Cornstalk Plant (aka Corn Plant)
- Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman)
- Cycads
- Cyclamen

D
- Daffodil
- Day Lily
- Devil's Ivy
- Dumb Cane
- Deadly Nightshade (See Nightshade)

E
- Easter Lily
- Elephant Ears
- Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern)
- Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather)
- English Ivy

F
- Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron
- Flamingo Plant
- Florida Beauty
- Foxglove
- Fruit Salad Plant

G
- Glacier Ivy
- Gladiolas
- Glory Lily
- Gold Dieffenbachia
- Gold Dust Dracaena
- Golden Pothos
- Green Gold Nephthysis

H
- Hahn's self branching English Ivy
- Heartleaf Philodendron
- Heavenly Bamboo
- Holly
- Horsehead Philodendron
- Hurricane Plant
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea

I
- Iris

J
- Japanese Show Lily
- Japanese Yew (aka Yew)
- Jerusalem Cherry
Back to Top


K
- Kalanchoe

L
- Lace Fern
- Lacy Tree
- Lily of the Valley

M
- Macadamia Nut
- Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Marble Queen
- Marijuana
- Mauna Loa Peace Lily (aka Peace Lily)
- Mexican Breadfruit
- Mistletoe "American"
- Morning Glory
- Mother-in-Law

N
- Narcissus
- Needlepoint Ivy
- Nephthytis
- Nightshade

O
- Oleander
- Onion
- Orange Day Lily

P
- Panda
- Peace Lily (aka Mauna Loa Peace Lily)
- Philodendron Pertusum
- Plumosa Fern
- Precatory Bean

Q
- Queensland Nut

R
- Red Emerald
- Red Lily
- Red-Margined Dracaena (aka Straight-Margined Dracaena)
- Red Princess
- Rhododendron
- Ribbon Plant (Dracaena sanderiana)
- Rubrum Lily

S
- Saddle Leaf Philodendron
- Sago Palm
- Satin Pothos
- Schefflera
- Spotted Dumb Cane
- Stargazer Lily
- Striped Dracaena
- Sweetheart Ivy
- Swiss Cheese Plant

T
- Taro Vine
- Tiger Lily
- Tomato Plant
- Tree Philodendron
- Tropic Snow Dumbcane
- Tulip

V
- Variable Dieffenbachia
- Variegated Philodendron

W
- Warneckei Dracaena
- Wood Lily

Y
- Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
- Yew (aka Japanese Yew)
- Yucca
 

crittermom

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I have 2 Peace Lilly's, 3 Wandering Ivy's and a few others that I have NO clue what they are.
 

bonnie1965

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I was researching this a couple of weeks ago. Here is a short list of some of the plants I like that are considered "safe". I prefer hanging plants since my little apartment has limited floor space and what horizontal space there is goes to the cats


-Aluminum plant
-Spider plant
-Echeveria (hens & chicks)
-Pepperomia (this there are several of this type)
-Piggyback plant
-Polka Dot Plant (also called Freckles)
-Creeping Charlie
-Prayer Plant
-Burro's Tail (a sedum)
-Purple Passion
-Nerve Plant (Fittonia)
-Grape Ivy
-Bridal Veil
-Baby's Tears
-Hawthornia (these are succulents)
-Hoya

Hope this helps a bit
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by Bonnie1965

I prefer hanging plants since my little apartment has limited floor space and what horizontal space there is goes to the cats
That's really the best way, keeps the cats out of the pots too.

Spider plants are safe and easy to grow, and again they also do best when in a hanging pot. Dracaenas are easy to grow as well.

I've never had much luck with hawthornia
Somehow I always managed to kill them.

http://www.traditionalcats.com/Educa...nd_poisons.htm
has a nice list and a bit of details on why the plants are toxic, as well as some safe plants. Before deciding on plants it wouldn't hurt to compare a few lists, just in case.
 

gailc

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Being both a landscaper and an owner of many cats thoughout the years-I haven't had any problems with cats and plants. My cats do enjoy catnip and catmint-they have never touched any other plants (ok Bobber likes to rub on my agave plant!!)
The only outdoor plants I would be worried about for both kids and pets are caster bean and datura.
I think if you grow cat grass they won't bother the other plants if you are worried.
 
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troublesome2

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thank you all so much, its very surprising the people in the shops dont know this stuff
 

carolpetunia

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Bonnie, thanks for the list of GOOD plants! I love grape ivy and hoya -- I'm so glad to find they're safe! Maybe I'll start growing a few things again...
 

hilda>^..^<

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I have quite a few ivy's in our home. When we first moved here, I was worried as to where I was going to put all of them. Alex Jr came to my rescue! (actually, he just got tired of seeing them all over the place!) I've got 8 of them in my kitchen...here are just two of them...



I've got 4 more up on the old buffet on the right-hand side of the pic...but for some reason, Elora y Mia just don't seem to be too interested in them so they leave them alone...



Got a few more ivy's in my bathroom...and they ignore those as well...




Good Luck in finding something your kitties won't try to eat!
Hilda>^..^<
 

bonnie1965

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Bonnie, thanks for the list of GOOD plants! I love grape ivy and hoya -- I'm so glad to find they're safe! Maybe I'll start growing a few things again...
You're welcome
I love houseplants and have missed them this past year. Here is a link to the ASPCA web page for NONtoxic plants - both indoors and out.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...nontoxicplants
 

bonnie1965

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Originally Posted by Hilda>^..^<

I have quite a few ivy's in our home. When we first moved here, I was worried as to where I was going to put all of them. Alex Jr came to my rescue! (actually, he just got tired of seeing them all over the place!) I've got 8 of them in my kitchen...here are just two of them...
Nice plants - you have a beautiful home
 

hilda>^..^<

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Originally Posted by Bonnie1965

Nice plants - you have a beautiful home
Thank you! I might just take a few more pics of the ivy's in the kitchen...they look so pretty up on the cabinets.

Hilda>^..^<
 
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