Pet-safe holiday plants that still look cheerful indoors

Holiday plants are gorgeous, but not all of them are friendly to curious cats and dogs. You don’t have to skip the greenery—just pick varieties that play nice. These options bring color and texture without the worry, and they’re easy to keep looking good through the season.

Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is non-toxic to cats and dogs, so it’s a safe way to get those bright blooms on a mantel or console. It likes bright, indirect light and a thorough watering only when the top inch of soil is dry. That rhythm keeps it happy while the heat is running.

Even though it’s safe, a nibbling pet can still get a mild stomach upset from any plant material. Place it where air can circulate and where paws won’t knock it off a ledge. If you want a long show, keep it slightly cooler at night and don’t move it once buds set.

African violets

African violets are also listed as non-toxic for cats and dogs, and they bloom in winter when everything else feels sleepy. Give them bright, indirect light and water from the bottom so the fuzzy leaves stay dry and spotless.

They’re perfect tucked into a low bowl with moss for a coffee table or bedside moment. Rotate the container weekly so growth stays even, and pinch spent blooms to keep fresh flowers coming through the holidays.

Phalaenopsis orchids

Moth orchids bring that quiet, high-end look and they’re non-toxic to cats and dogs, which surprises a lot of people. They like steady indoor temps, bright filtered light, and a weekly soak so the bark medium rehydrates without staying soggy.

Style them simply—white or soft pink flowers in a plain cachepot—so they fit a holiday palette without clashing. After bloom, trim the spike just above a node to encourage a rebloom later, or let the plant rest until spring.

Rosemary topiaries

If you want the shape of a mini tree with a kitchen payoff, rosemary is a safe pick around pets and it makes the whole room smell clean. Keep soil lightly moist, rotate for even growth, and give it the sunniest window you’ve got.

Clip a few sprigs for roasted potatoes or to tie onto napkins as living place cards. If indoor air is very dry, set the pot on a pebble tray with water below the stones so humidity rises right around the plant.

A quick note on the classics

Poinsettias aren’t the villains they’re made out to be, but they can still cause mouth and stomach irritation if chewed. If your pets like to snack on leaves, keep poinsettias high and consider sticking to the truly pet-safe options above, or skip them altogether. Holly, mistletoe, and true lilies are bigger concerns; avoid them in homes with pets.