Cast iron plant is a perfect houseplant for people who can’t afford much care. It can thrive under neglect, cold conditions, and shade. Is it safe or poisonous to cats?
Going by other names such as Iron Plant, Bar Room Plant, Variegated Cast, cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is an ornamental houseplant native to Taiwan and Japan. That can thrive outdoors so long as the temperature isn’t below −5 °C (23 °F). It belongs to the Asparagus family, Asparagaceae.
There are many reasons why the cast iron plant is a perfect choice for many people, and you should consider having them today.
Firstly, cast iron plants are safe for cats, i.e., they are not toxic or poisonous to cats as well as your dogs and horses. You don’t have to worry about these pets nibbling a bit of the leaf. Besides cats, Aspidistra elatior is also safe for your children to touch. Who wants house plants that are unsafe to the house dwellers?
While strict carnivores, for some reasons, cats tend to chew some greeneries, including grass and houseplants.
Secondly, cast iron plants have charming glossy dark green leaves (12-20 inches long) and cream leaves maroon on their inner side. These plants don’t need much care. They boast of a Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, and there are many cultivars to choose from, popular ones being Asahi, Hoshi-Zora, Lennon’s Song, and Variegata.
That is not all. Did you know that the name cast iron comes from the fact that they can thrive under low light, low humidity, temperature fluctuation? Just put them away from the sun to avoid them being bleached and ensure that temperature doesn’t go below −5 °C (23 °F) and above; otherwise, they will be killed by frost.
Besides iron plants, there are many other cat safe plants you can have at your home (garden and as houseplants) that include the following:
- Kimberly queen fern
- Christmas cactus
- Bromeliads
- Echeveria glauca
- Goldfish plant
- Pheasant plant
- Calatheas including rattlesnake and peacock plants
- Polka dot plant
- Lipstick plant
These are not the only ones. There are many others. However, if you got a new plant, you are unsure if it is safe for your kitty or not, talk to your vet or check on the ASPCA database with safe and toxic plants.