The Best Air Purifying Indoor Plants That Are Safe for Dogs

Imagine you love having lush greenery indoors but worry about the risk they may pose to your pet. What if they nibble on a leaf and get sick. This dilemma is all too common among pet parents who are also avid plant lovers, given that not all dog safe indoor plants are air-purifying, and not all air-cleansing plants are pet-friendly. However, there are a few that check both the boxes. Here is my handpicked list of beautiful air purifying indoor plants safe for dogs, and tips on how to use them. Get ready to green up your home guilt-free, with plants that clear the air and won’t harm your furry friend.

Why Choose Air Purifying Plants That Are Dog-Safe?

While plants add a touch of freshness, vibrancy, and elevate the wellness quotient of your home, not all popular houseplants aren’t pet-friendly. For example, peace lilies and golden pothos or Devil’s ivy are often touted for air purification, but they contain calcium oxalates that can cause drooling, vomiting or worse if a dog chews on them. Even hardy plants like snake plants contain saponins that lead to nausea and diarrhea in pets. That’s why selecting pet-safe air purifying plants is so important: you get cleaner air and peace of mind. 

How Plants Improve Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air can get surprisingly polluted with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paints, disinfectants and new furniture, formaldehyde from carpets, and even excess CO₂ from poor ventilation. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that household products like varnishes, cleaners, and glues continuously emit VOCs that can irritate eyes, throats or worse. Indoor plants can help mitigate that damage. In fact, NASA’s famous Clean Air Study of 1989 showed that common houseplants can remove indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde. 

Aside from scrubbing toxins, plants raise humidity and boost well-being. Their transpiration adds moisture to dry air, which can ease breathing and nose irritation. Plus, studies suggest greenery can reduce stress and improve mood, so your home not only smells fresher, it feels calmer. It’s a win-win: better air quality and a little slice of nature that’s safe for your best friend.

10 Air Purifying Indoor Plants That Are Safe for Dogs

In this day and age when we’re exposed to a range of toxins with every breath we take, it’s only natural to want your living space to be as free of this risk as possible. And indoor air purifying plants help with that to a great extent. However, as we’ve already seen, not all plants that are good for you are good for your canine companions. This creates a unique need for pet parents: cultivating dog-safe indoor greenery. Once you know which plants to choose and which ones to avoid, this becomes a whole lot simpler. To that end, let’s look at some air purifying indoor plants safe for dogs:

1. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Also known as the butterfly or golden palm, the Areca Palm is a classic pet-safe air purifying plant. Research, including NASA’s studies, shows it removes pollutants like formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from indoor air. Best of all, the ASPCA confirms Areca Palms are non-toxic to dogs, so curious pups can sniff around without risk.

This plant can grow several feet tall, making it a striking statement. And, these are fairly easy to care for, though they like consistent watering and warm temperatures. 

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider Plants are well-known pet-friendly air cleaning plants. They are excellent toxin-busters, particularly against formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. These plants produce arching green leaves, often with white stripes, and even baby “spiders” on long stems. Since they are known non-toxic houseplants for pets, you don’t have to worry about your curious pet chewing on a leaf or two. What I like best about Spider Plants is that you can put their little offshoots to create new plants, expanding your dog-safe indoor greenery.

3. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

The Bamboo Palm, sometimes called a reed palm or parlor palm, is another of the air purifying indoor plants safe for dogs that is known for its air filtration properties. It clears benzene and trichloroethylene from indoor air and tolerates lower light better than many palms, making it ideal for dimmer rooms. 

Its bamboo-like stalks add a tropical vibe to any room. And, these palms grow slowly and maintain a compact form indoors, so they’re forgiving if you miss a watering here and there. Just be sure to remove any dead fronds to keep it tidy.

4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

The lush Boston Fern is a classic air-purifying houseplant, noted for removing formaldehyde and xylene, and is safe for dogs. Boston Ferns love moisture and will give back a burst of fresh, slightly humid air to your home. This is not only one of the pet-friendly air cleaning plants but also great for pooches with dry skin or noses. It thrives in bright, indirect light and needs consistently damp soil to thrive. learn more about how to make dog fur soft and shiny.

5. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

The Prayer Plant is prized for its striking leaves, green with red or pink veins, and has some mild air-cleaning ability. It won’t remove toxins as aggressively as palms, but every bit helps. Most importantly, it’s among the non-toxic houseplants for pets. I love placing these low to the ground, since their foliage opens up at night and creates a calming effect in a cozy corner. Prayer Plants, too, prefer indirect light and evenly moist soil. Unlike many plants, they enjoy higher humidity, making them perfect for a bathroom or kitchen window

6. Peperomia

Compact and cute, Peperomias are a diverse group of air filtering plants dogs can be around. Varieties like Baby Rubber Plant and Watermelon Peperomia are all non-toxic to dogs. Though they’re not among the top air purifiers, peperomias still help slightly with overall air quality by producing oxygen and retaining humidity with their thick leaves. They’re extremely forgiving, and easy to maintain. Just remember to water them sparingly. 

7. Calathea (Rattlesnake Plant and friends)

Calathea species, often called Rattlesnake Plant or Peacock Plant, are beautiful air purifying indoor plants safe for dogs. They have broad, often striped leaves that add visual interest. Like other tropicals, they offer some air-purifying benefits, though their main perks are humidity and aesthetics. They thrive in low-to-medium indirect light, slightly moist soil, and warm, consistent indoor tempsWith the right care, their rolling leaves and colorful underside—many have purple patterns—make them a showstopper.

8. African Violet

African Violets are little flowering wonders that not only help improve air quality but also source up the place with their purple bloom. Among the air filtering plants dogs can be around, these are one of the most aesthetically pleasing. These petite plants love bright, indirect light, lightly moist soil, and moderate indoor temps. They’re a beginner-friendly way to add some color while staying 100% pet-safe.

9. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

The Parlor Palm, often just called “chamaedorea” or “neanthebella palm”, is a tough, apartment-friendly, pet-friendly, low-maintenance palm. They forgive occasional neglect and stay green, making them a great entry-level palm for pet-friendly air cleaning goals. These palms grow slowly to about 4–6 feet tall, so they’re ideal for indoor spaces. 

10. Fittonia (Nerve Plant)

Fittonia, commonly called the Nerve Plant or Mosaic Plant, is a small tropical indoor plant with bright vein patterns on its leaves. Although limited in their capacity to filter out toxins, it does add oxygen and humidity to the indoor air, and it’s non-toxic to dogs. Not to mention, it’s a charming addition to your interiors. Fittonias enjoy low to medium light and very high humidity. 

Plants to Avoid: Toxic Indoor Plants for Dogs

When it comes to picking indoor plants for a house with dogs, knowing which ones to avoid is just as important as choosing the right ones. Common houseplants that we should skip in a dog-friendly home include,

1. Aloe Vera: Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy due to saponins
2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): Irritates mouth and throat, causes drooling, vomiting
3. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane): Causes oral irritation, swelling, and difficulty swallowing
4. Philodendron – Leads to mouth irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting
5. Snake Plant (Sansevieria): Can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
6. Pothos (Devil’s Ivy): Irritates mouth and GI tract, leading to drooling and vomiting
7. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): Causes oral irritation and stomach upset
8. Sago Palm: Extremely toxic to dogs. Can cause liver failure and death
9. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata): Can lead to vomiting, depression, and coordination issues.
10. Cyclamen: Causes vomiting. Ingestion in large quantities can lead to heart problems

As a rule of thumb, I always check any plant against the ASPCA’s list or my local nursery’s pet-safe list before buying. When in doubt, err on the safe side. There are plenty of dog-safe indoor greenery options to choose from. learn more about which dog food ingredients bad for your pet.

How to Keep Plants and Dogs Safe Together

Even with dog safe indoor plants, you need to make sure that your greens and pet can coexist. Here are some tips on how to keep plants and dogs safe together that have stood me good stead over the years: 

• Place plants on high shelves or in hanging pots where curious dogs can’t reach
• Train your dog with a firm “leave it” command to protect my plants and them 
• Using physical barriers like sturdy plant stands, terrariums or decorative cages works too 
• Another trick is to deter chewing by spraying a very diluted, pet-safe bitter spray on the leaves

In addition to that, always keep an eye on your plants: check soil moisture and look under leaves for chewed edges. And remember, even safe plants can cause tummy upset if eaten in large quantities, so supervise your pet’s interactions with your plants. With a few precautions, you’ll create a dog-proof green haven in no time!

Takeaway

Keeping the air clean at home and your dog happy doesn’t have to be hard. With the right pet-safe air purifying plants, you can enjoy a beautiful, green space that’s safe for both of you. Start with one or two of these air purifying indoor plants safe for dogs, see how they do and how your dog reacts, and then slowly expand your indoor garden. Before you know it, you’ll have a lush oasis where you and your dog can breathe easy together. The journey of growing a pet-friendly indoor jungle is well worth it!