Ponytail palm
Beaucarnea recurvata (Agavaceae)
Also called Elephant-Foot Tree, Pony Tail Plant, Bottle Palm.
Cats and dogs
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
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 "Pony Tail", checked October 3, 2026.
Light
- Low light 3+ mol
- Medium light 6+ mol
- Bright indirect 10+ mol Copes
- Direct sun 12+ mol Best
A desert plant that wants as much light as you can give it indoors, ideally a sunny window with full sun. Outdoors in warm climates it also grows in part sun, but move it outside gradually to avoid sunburn.
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: Water deeply in summer but let the soil dry out between waterings, and cut back watering sharply in winter.
It copes well with dry indoor heated air that bothers many other houseplants.
More pet-safe plants for similar light
- Burro's tail direct sun
- Echeveria (hens and chickens) direct sun
- Venus flytrap direct sun
- Areca palm bright indirect light
- Basil direct sun
- Gloxinia bright indirect light
Sources
- Toxicity: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, "Pony Tail"
- Light and care: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, "Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm)"
- Light and care: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture), "Ponytail Palm, Beaucarnea recurvata"
- Light and care: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, "Ponytail"