5 Pet Friendly Plants for Indoor Herb Gardens

Create a Safe and Stunning Indoor Herb Garden for Your Pets with These Pet-Friendly Herbs! Discover how to cultivate Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Sage, and Cilantro—perfect for enhancing your dishes and home without worrying about your pets.

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If you’re here, you are just like me. You want a beautiful garden that you do not have to worry about your pets eating right? My cat eats all of my plants in his site and I worry about the little bugger.

There may be some unnecessary bite marks in your plants but with this guide, you can have a beautiful indoor herb garden with no risks to your pets.

Don’t worry! It is possible!

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What Are Pet Friendly Plants?

If you have read other posts of mine (or even just my about me section), you know that I have been working with animals for almost all of my adult career.

Do you know how many calls I have received with people asking me what they should so about their pet who has ingested a toxin? I don’t even think I can count. It’s a lot. That’s all I know.

I have even received calls from owners who swear their pet has never touched this plant that they have had for years and suddenly their plant has a bite mark in it.

It is definitely important to consider pet friendly plants when you are introducing luscious greenery to your home. But if you have already made the mistake in the past of introducing a toxic plant to your house (with or without knowing), check out this post on identifying toxic plants and making your home garden pet safe.

On the other hand, if you are serious about your pets and your wallet check out my favorite pet insurance companies. They are the best in the game and here is why.

Pet Friendly Plant Criteria

In this article, I will only be discussing non toxic plants for cats and dogs. But there is certain criteria that you can follow for pet friendly plants:

• The plant needs to be consumed in very high doses to become toxic [Parsley]
• You can store the plant in a location your pets can’t get to it
• Chicken wire or other deterrent materials are around the plants

Pet Friendly Herbs

Herbs can be used in multiple ways ranging from medicinal purposes to tasty dishes, pleasant fragrances and beautiful accents.

Here are some reasons why fresh herbs are an absolute must in my home:

• Cocktail accents– I absolutely love to put fresh herbs in my cocktails. In fact, when I visited a quaint lavender garden (read about it here), we bought an amazing lavender lemonade. You know what made it taste even better… fresh mint from my back yard. Absolute heaven, you have to try it!
• Aroma– One of my favorite things to do while I am cleaning my house is throw on a pot of boiling water with fresh herbs. It brings out the natural aromas and makes the house smell so good.
• Culinary Dishes– This is a no brainer. There is no other feeling than being able to throw fresh herbs, that you grew, into your dishes.

Rosemary

Our first pet safe herb is Rosemary. Rosemary is completely nontoxic to pets and is one of my favorite scents. I adore mixing rosemary and mint together for an earthy but soothing scent.

Rosemary is characterized by its thin pine shaped leaves with a dark green front and a whiteish green back. When crushed, rosemary emits its oils, intensifying the aroma which can be used in dishes or fragrances.

Rosemary is versatile in the kitchen that complements a variety of dishes. It pairs well with roasted meats (especially lamb and chicken), potatoes, vegetables, and bread.

The fresh or dried leaves can be used whole or chopped to impart flavor.

I personally enjoy putting them into garlic and rosemary potatoes. Being half Italian, garlic goes into everything and is a staple in my kitchen so of course I would pair with with rosemary also. I found a good recipe here by Debbie Net.

Thyme

Thyme is another fully non toxic herb for pets. It is characterized by its low growing, small and narrow leaves that are typically greenish- grey in color.

Thyme has a slightly peppery taste that pairs well with a number of different culinary dishes. It complements meats (especially poultry and lamb), vegetables, soups, stews, and marinade.

Thyme is a slow growing herb but packs a big flavor even when crushed or rubbed. Thyme also keeps well while dried.

Although I do not usually reach for thyme for a ton of my recipes I still keep it on hand for cases in which the recipe would not be right without it. When you need it, your really need it!

I found a good recipe here that you have to try by Happy Muncher.

Basil

Alright, who has not walked into the grocery store and saw a ton of basil plants being sold. Well, I have.

Basil is yet another fully pet friendly plant that is versatile in the kitchen. Basil is characterized by their oval-shaped leaves that are typically bright green in color. The leaves grow opposite each other along sturdy, branching stems.

Depending on the variety, basil plants can range from compact bushes to taller, leggy plants.

My favorite ways to use basil are with tomatoes (simple but tasty) and of course to make delicious pesto. You may need a good amount of basil to make pesto but homemade is definitely worth it.

I also enjoy using basil as a cute garnish. It makes me feel like a professional mom-chef. I’m not, but who doesn’t want to pretend every once in a while.

I’ve found a great pesto recipe here by Dishes and Dust Bunnies.

Sage

I’m going to be honest. I don’t think I have ever or will ever cook with sage. I personally prefer to use it as a scent or in extreme cases, to ward off bad spirits (just kidding).

Sage is non-toxic to pets making it another pet friendly herb to grow indoors.

Sage is a beautiful plant characterized by its woody stems and soft, gray-green leaves The leaves are oblong shaped and slightly fuzzy. They are often wrinkled and grow in pairs along the stem, giving sage a textured and ornamental appearance.

Sage comes in different varieties, all very earthy and ornamental in appearance. It pairs well with a lot of different scented counterparts, my favorite being lavender and sage.

Fun fact, I used lavender and sage for my wedding theme! Yes, you can steal the idea, it’s fine.

Cilantro

That brings us to our final non-toxic, pet friendly indoor herb, cilantro.

Cilantro is characterized by its delicately shaped leaves and bright green appearance. It is used in a number of dishes and is typically used as a fresh herb rather than dried.

My mom actually introduced me to a very good cilantro added recipes that my whole family loved. The recipe has a little kick to it so I omit the spicy seasonings. Here it is by The Chunky Chef.

Conclusion

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re like me—an avid gardener who also happens to be a pet owner concerned about the safety of their furry friends.

My own mischievous cat has left his mark on more than a few plants, prompting me to find pet-friendly solutions for my indoor garden.

With this guide, you can cultivate a beautiful indoor herb garden without worrying about potential risks to your pets.

While some plants may bear the occasional tooth mark, following these tips ensures a safe and enjoyable environment for both you and your beloved animals.