Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae)
Also called Anthos.
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 "Rosemary", checked October 3, 2026.
Light
- Low light 3+ mol
- Medium light 6+ mol
- Bright indirect 10+ mol
- Direct sun 12+ mol Best
Needs full sun; indoors a sunny south window is best, and grow lights are advised if it cannot get about six hours of sun a day. It tolerates light shade outdoors but not dim interiors.
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 10.8 (how these numbers are set).
Care
Care level: Demanding. Water: Let the top of the soil dry between waterings without letting it dry out completely; overwatering is the most common killer.
Often hard to overwinter indoors; wants a cool room with good air circulation to avoid powdery mildew.
More pet-safe plants for similar light
- Basil direct sun
- Burro's tail direct sun
- Echeveria (hens and chickens) direct sun
- Ponytail palm direct sun
- Venus flytrap direct sun
Sources
- Toxicity: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, "Rosemary"
- Light and care: Missouri Botanical Garden, "Salvia rosmarinus - Plant Finder"
- Light and care: NC State Extension, "Salvia rosmarinus | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox"
- Light and care: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, "Rosemary – Gardening Solutions"