Echeveria (hens and chickens)
Echeveria elegans (Crassulaceae)
Also called Chickens and Hens, Mother Hens and Chicks.
Cats and dogs
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Cats: non-toxic Dogs: non-toxic
Not expected to poison cats or dogs. Eating any plant can still cause vomiting or an upset stomach, so keep it out of reach of chewers.
Source: ASPCA entry "Hens and Chickens", checked October 3, 2026.
Light
- Low light 3+ mol
- Medium light 6+ mol
- Bright indirect 10+ mol Copes
- Direct sun 12+ mol Best
Grows in full sun to partial shade and is usually grown as a houseplant in a sunny spot in a shallow pot.
Direct sun: needs several hours a day.
On our scale it grows well from about 12 mol/m²/day and holds on down to roughly 2.2 (how these numbers are set).
Care
Care level: Easy. Water: Keep it on the dry side in fast-draining soil; overwatering is the most common problem.
More pet-safe plants for similar light
- Burro's tail direct sun
- Ponytail palm direct sun
- Venus flytrap direct sun
- Areca palm bright indirect light
- Basil direct sun
- Gloxinia bright indirect light