10 beautiful and pet-friendly house plants that are low maintenance

The best house plants are both beautiful and easy to maintain, allowing you to enjoy their benefits without having to spend too much time or money on them. If you have a pet, low-maintenance house plants are even more important, since the last thing you want is for your dog or cat to start eating the foliage of one of your most prized house plants! With all that in mind, here are 10 beautiful and pet-friendly house plants that are low maintenance and suitable for homes with pets.

1) Pilea Peperomioides

One of our favorite options for pet owners is Pilea Peperomioides. A small, shrub-like plant with big leaves and tiny, white flowers, it makes an excellent choice for those looking to add a touch of green without any hassle. Pilea Peperomioides can survive just about anywhere, as long as it has the right amount of light and water. It will grow in places like high humidity or direct sunlight with no issues at all. Additionally, this one thrives on neglect - giving this one just enough TLC will keep it healthy indefinitely!

2) Money Tree

The Money Tree is a classic example of an indoor plant with attractive leaves. It’s also known as Pachira Aquatica and can reach heights of up to 5 feet indoors. The Money Tree requires minimal care, making it ideal for people who aren’t gardening experts. In fact, all you have to do is soak it in water twice per week. You should keep the soil moist at all times. Like most other houseplants, the Money Tree needs light so make sure to place it near a window where there is plenty of natural light.

3) Peperomia Obtusifolia

This compact, creeping houseplant has broad, dark green leaves with purplish undersides. It also features small, pink flowers on slender stalks in summer. The plant is toxic to cats if ingested, so only keep it out of reach. This popular houseplant is easy to grow indoors; just be sure to keep it on a drip tray (so water doesn't collect on its leaves) and away from direct sunlight for long periods of time (allowing it to catch morning light will help). Peperomia obtusifolia's foliage is fleshy, which means it won't last as long during long periods without water or cold temperatures — but will bounce back quickly when treated well.

4) Parlor Palm

A parlor palm is one of my favorite pet friendly house plants. It's a great plant to grow indoors as it cleanses indoor air by removing toxins like formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene, toluene and more. In fact, in just 24 hours it can absorb up to 87% of airborne pollutants! While they do thrive on sunlight (hence the name) they'll also do well indoors with bright light exposure. The Parlor Palm should be watered regularly but never allowed to become too soggy—drenching it will cause root rot.

5) Calathea Network

The Calathea network is a genus of about 160 species of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru. They're related to plantains, in case you've ever seen one at a grocery store. The leaves can be as long as two feet or so in some species, but most stay much smaller. C. sanguinea has dark green with white flecks leaves and red veins on each leaf that are very eye catching when displayed next to each other. It also tolerates shady conditions, although it prefers bright indirect light when possible (so it's good for most houses).

6) Calathea Ornata Pinstripe

Calathea Ornata Pinstripe is an attractive plant with large, thick leaves that thrive in medium light. They’re easy to care for and can grow to be very tall! These plants have simple care instructions: keep soil moist year round; they prefer a humid environment, so place it by a window or near a heater. Keep out of direct sunlight; indirect light is preferable. Allow top half inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

7) Maranta Neon Prayer Plant

Native to South Africa, Maranta is one of those stunning but decidedly simple plants that can brighten any room. They need direct sunlight, so keep them near a window. Water them when soil feels dry to touch; once or twice a week should do it (more often in winter). Note: Although they are non-toxic to pets, Keep Maranta away from cats and dogs, since they may find it delicious!

8) Banana Plant

The Banana plant is one of our favorite choices for pet owners. The plant itself is quite large, but not at all demanding as far as care goes. It’s easy to propagate (more on that later) and while it can get tall, it tends to grow outward more than up. This makes it a great indoor choice for apartments or other areas where ceilings aren’t very high.

9) Iresine Herbstii Brilliantissima

Iresine Herbstii Brilliantissima is part of a genus of tropical flowering plant native to South America, including Brazil. This stunning variety features violet-hued leaves with white edges. Care instructions: These low-maintenance plants prefer bright indirect light. Allow soil to dry in between watering, which can be done on a weekly basis. Iresine Herbstii Brilliantissima is easy to take care of, making it a wonderful option for beginning gardeners and families with pets!

10) Fatsia Japonica

The newest addition to our list of ten beautiful and pet-friendly house plants is Fatsia Japonica. Fatsia’s cheerful leaves come in a variety of colors, but its best feature is its resilience. It requires little sunlight or water (just mist it once a week) but can survive both. So, if you’re looking for a resilient plant to brighten up your home, look no further than Fatsia!