We all love our pets and want to keep them safe. One of the most popular questions we see about succulents is, “Are succulents poisonous to cats or pets?” With the popularity of succulents and cacti as houseplants, pet owners are understandably concerned about the safety of succulents.
Are succulents safe around our cats, dogs or pets? luckily for us, there are plenty of succulents to choose from that are non-toxic and safe for pets.
here are 15 safe succulents and cacti to keep around your beloved pets:
echeveria
Echeverias range from southern Mexico to South America. echeverias are characterized by their beautiful rosettes with exquisite features and colors. rosettes vary in shape and size from tight and short-stemmed to hanging on stems.
The leaves also vary greatly, from thin to thick, from smooth to hairy. echeverias come in many different shades and colors. Due to its popularity, there are many hybrid echeverias available.
Most echeverias are completely safe and non-poisonous to cats, dogs and pets. some popular echeverias include:
Echeveria setosa var. deminuta (firecracker plant)
This echeveria is covered in a soft, hairy down that gives it its distinctive appearance. it got its common name from the flowers it produces, which are an explosion of bright red and yellow flowers. these are native to mexico and are not frost hardy.
echeveria elegans (Mexican snowballs)
echeveria elegans are native to mexico. these are attractive echeverias with succulent, bluish-green leaves. the leaves turn pink at the tips as the plant matures.
They produce beautiful, showy pink flowers. these echeverias multiply easily producing offsets.
echeveria pulvinata (stuffed plant or ruby ruby)
These are attractive plants that grow on small bushes and have hairy green leaves with silvery-white fuzz and red tips. velvety in texture with bell-shaped red, yellow and orange flowers.
Most common echeveria species are not complicated succulents to grow. Native to Mexico, these plants are not frost hardy and must be protected from freezing temperatures.
aoeniums
most aeoniums are native to the canary islands; some are found in madeira, morocco and eastern africa. aeoniums are most commonly known for their showy rosettes made up of dense, waxy leaves that grow from a single stem. aeoniums come in several varieties, colors, shapes, and sizes.
Almost all types of aeonium are safe for cats, dogs, and pets. some of the popular varieties are:
aeonio ‘kiwi’
These aeoniums have beautiful color combinations of yellow, green, and red. the leaves are yellowest in the center of the plant and greenest in the middle, while the edges of the leaves are lined with red margins. these aeoniums produce offsets easily and can multiply quickly during the growing season. they produce bright yellow flowers around spring.
aeonium arboreum ‘zwartkop’ (black rose)
the distinguishing feature of aeonium arboreum ‘zwartkop’ (black rose, black tree aeonium) is its beautiful deep purple, almost black foliage. Like all aeoniums, Aeonium arboreum ‘zwartkop’ has showy, flower-like rosettes made up of waxy leaves. the stems can grow over 3 feet (91 cm) long. these are monocarpic plants and die after flowering but easily offset before flowering.
aeonium canariense (giant velvet rose)
Native to the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, these aeoniums can develop really large rosettes. the leaves are mostly green, but may turn brownish-red at the edges when exposed to full sun. like most aeoniums, they are monocarpic and die after flowering.
sedum morganianum (donkey’s tail, donkey’s tail, lamb’s tail)
Native to southern Mexico, these unusual-looking plants are very popular and are used primarily in hanging baskets. They are evergreen evergreens with abundantly long, pendulous stems that can grow up to 3 feet long. they have plump, very compact, bluish-green leaves that are spherical in shape.
graptopetalum paraguayense (ghost plant)
A beautiful perennial native to Mexico with thick, fleshy, triangular leaves that form pretty rosettes. the stems droop or trail as they grow and mature. their colors are in pretty pastels and can range from pale blue to light purple. in full sun they turn slightly translucent and pink. in extreme heat and full sun with low humidity they turn gray with pink undertones.
haworthia
Most haworthias are native to the southern regions of Africa. Haworthias are very popular indoor succulents due to their ability to grow in low light. they are also slow-growing and do not grow too large, making them ideal houseplants. They are safe to have around cats, dogs, or pets. some of the popular varieties are:
haworthia attenuata (zebra plant)
now known as haworthiopsis attenuata, at first glance they look like an aloe plant. they are actually from the same subfamily. the unique feature of the plant is the spiky green leaves with white warty spots on the leaves. they produce suckers and young easily when mature. these plants prefer plenty of indirect sunlight. they can tolerate some shade and low light, but not for long.
haworthia cymbiformis
Native to South Africa, Haworthia cymbiformis is characterized by clumps of dense rosettes with very thick, juicy, boat-shaped green leaves (“cymbiformis” actually means boat-shaped). the leaves have glassy-looking stripes at their tips, giving them a unique appearance.
haworthia truncata (horse teeth)
Native to the Western Cape of South Africa, Haworthia truncata has unusual-looking leaves that appear truncated from the top. the leaves are almost square or rectangular in shape, green with white spots on the truncated upper part.
sempervivums (hens and chicks)
sempervivums (hens and chicks) are a large genus of succulent plants. sempervivums are very popular and many hybrids have been formed. they are cold, drought, and heat hardy, making them popular outdoor plants. they multiply by growing groups of small chicks around the mother plant, giving them the name “hens and chicks”.
Clusters of rosettes can stay small or grow up to 8 in (20 cm) across. Hens and chicks are easy to raise and come in many different varieties of colors, sizes, and textures to choose from.
schlumbergera (Christmas or festive cactus)
schlumbergera belongs to a small genus of cacti. Native to the Brazilian rainforests, they require some moisture and do not tolerate intense heat and frost. Schlumbergera species are different from other cacti in their appearance and habits.
They are epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees in moist, humid regions, or on rocky ground as lithophytes. Schlumbergera stems form joints that can be flat, leaf-shaped, or bottle-shaped. the stems are green all year round.
Christmas cactus
One of the most common varieties is the Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti, which have become popular houseplants for their beautiful, showy flowers. they make excellent houseplants and are commonly grown in pots. This tropical cactus does not do well in full sunlight and needs protection from the intense afternoon sun. they do well in partial shade. they can grow quite large and live for a long time.
beaucarnea recurvata (horsetail palm)
Despite the name and appearance, horsetail palms are not palm trees, but rather succulent plants in the agave family. The most striking features of this plant are its bulbous trunk, which is used to store water, and its thin, long, hair-like leaves that grow from the top of the trunk like a horsetail, giving it the appearance of a palm tree. with ponytail.
These plants are easy to care for and require little watering. they are forgiving plants and will tolerate low light conditions. they generally need bright light, but can tolerate medium to low light even for half the year, making them ideal houseplants. it is safe to have these plants at home with your pets.
mesembryanthemaceae (lithops)
lithops, also known as living stones, are very popular succulents due to their unusual characteristics and unique shapes. they have no stem and are made up of thick leaves that grow in pairs. these are slow-growing plants, making them ideal container plants.
Older plants grow in clumps of “pebbles or stones,” giving them their characteristic appearance. lithops will tolerate high heat and bright indirect light, as well as cold temperatures, but only briefly. these are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
gastronomy
Gasteria got its name from the flower it produces, which resembles the shape of a stomach. “gaster” in Latin means stomach. they have long, thick, ribbed leaves and curved, stomach-shaped flowers. most gasteria species prefer bright but indirect light and should be protected from full sun. They do well indoors and are safe around your cats, dogs, or pets.
opuntia (nopal)
opuntia (prickly pear cactus) can be easily identified from other cactus species by its round, flattened joints called pads. the fleshy pads grow in segments or columns. These plants have long been cultivated in Mexico as a food source for their edible fruits and have also been used as natural sweeteners.
They are safe for both humans and pets, just watch out for their sharp spines. they can spread quickly and grow very large. to help control growth, they can be grown in containers.
Here are some of the more common or popular succulents that are safe to have around cats, dogs, and pets. there are many more out there. You can check the ASPCA website for more information on plant toxicity to pets. if you suspect poisoning, contact your local vet immediately or your local poison control hotline.
Still worried about the safety of succulents around your pets? visit my post for a list of toxic succulents: “9 Toxic Succulents for Cats, Dogs, and Pets.”
Do you have a plant chewer/digger/destroyer? check out my post on “are succulents poisonous to cats? how to keep cats away.”
Wondering where to buy some of these succulents online? check out my resource page for recommendations on where to buy succulents.
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photo by daniil lebedev on unsplash
photo by iz & Phil on Unsplash
