The 10 Best Plants for Your Bird’s Cage—And Which Ones to Avoid

By Shelby Deering

Updated

Apr. 30, 2025

Photo by Chewy

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Live plants can be a perfect addition to an aviary or even set off to the side of your bird’s cage. But which plants are safe for your bird—and least likely to attract pests or parasites to their habitat? And which toxic plants should you avoid? Here’s everything to know about choosing plants for your bird’s cage.

The 10 Best Plants for Your Bird’s Cage

Whether you have a budgie, parrot, lovebirds or other type of bird, these common plants are safe to include in their cage.

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1. Spinach

This plant, also known as Spinacia oleracea, has deep green leaves that can, at times, look curly or crinkled. When it comes to bird-safe plants, vegetables that are safe for birds to ingest top the list. Experts say that in general, the leaves of most vegetables (i.e. romaine, endive, carrot tops, escarole, turnip and dandelion greens), along with the vegetable, are safe for birds to ingest.

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2. Kale

Also called Brassica oleracea, kale has dark green leaves that tend to look ruffled or curled. This is another bird-safe vegetable that can double as an ornamental plant for a birdcage planter.

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3. Dogwood

No, you don’t have to plant a whole tree in your bird’s cage. If you want to play it especially safe, experts say that if you’re going to offer plants to your pet bird, it’s better to simply offer the leaf, or in this case, branch and not the whole plant. In addition, natural branches encourage a bird (particularly parrots) to grasp using different parts of their feet, which encourages the use of various muscles. And dogwood, aka Cornus florida, has another benefit: Its branches sprout lovely pink, yellow or white flowers.

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4. Basil

This herb, also called Ocimum basilicum, has vibrant green leaves and an intoxicating, delicious scent. While we like to use basil in Italian dishes, birds also enjoy it, and it’s safe for them to eat.

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5. Mint

Named Mentha piperita, Mint is a green herb that’s also safe to place in a bird’s cage, and it will offer a sweet-smelling, fresh aroma as well. In fact, most herbs are safe to include in a cage, including ginger, cilantro, oregano, parsley and thyme. If the bird grabs a little snack, there will be no worries.

iStock.com/Marina Meshcherskaia

6. Rubber tree

Although it has a charming nickname, rubber trees are also known as Hevea brasiliensis. While they can grow tall in a forest, and are tapped for their rubber sap, they additionally come in convenient houseplant sizes, with deep green leaves and a thin trunk. It also is an on-trend plant, making for a decorative, and safe, accent for your pet bird’s cage.

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7. Bamboo

Are you looking for a particularly tropical or jungle-like feel for your bird’s cage? Then look to the Bamboo plant, otherwise known as Bambusa vulgaris. It’s the treat of choice among pandas, and it’s equally safe for pet birds.

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8. Orchids

Maybe you’re hoping to add some floral touches to your bird’s cage. Then you’ll be pleased to know that gorgeous orchids, which belong to the family Orchidaceae and come in colors ranging from pink to orange to blue, are safe to include in your bird’s cage.

Hands holding a potted African violet plant

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9. African Violet

For little dots of purple for your bird’s cage, look no further than the African Violet, or Saintpaulia ionantha. They’ll beautify the space and are perfectly safe for your feathered friend.

A collection of potted parlor palm plants

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10. Parlor Palm

Looking like a large-scale, flourishing palm, the houseplant-sized Parlor Palm, or Chamaedorea elegans, is a popular houseplant choice nowadays. The green, sprawling leaves will create a jungle-inspired atmosphere in your bird’s cage.

Other Bird-Safe Plants

Acacia, aka Acacia dealbata
African Daisy, aka Arctotis stoechadifolia
Aloe, aka Aloe spp. (flesh only)
Ash, aka Fraxinus spp.
Aspen, aka Populus spp.
Baby’s Breath, aka Gypsophila paniculate
Beech, aka Fagus, Nothofagus
Begonia, aka Begonia cucullata
Birch, aka Betula spp.
Bird’s Nest Fern, aka Asplenium nidus
Boston Fern, aka Nephrolepsis bostoniensis
Bougainvillea, aka Bougainvillea
Butterfly Cane, aka Areca lustescens
Bromeliads, aka Anans comosus
Calendula, aka (Pot Marigold) Calendula officinalis
Chamomile, aka Chamaemelum nobile
Chickweed, aka Stellaria media
Christmas Cactus, aka Schlumbergera bridgesii
Corn Plant, aka Dracaena fragrans
Coffee, aka Coffea arabica
Crabapple, aka Malus sylvestris
Croton (house variety), aka Codiaeum variegatum
Dandelion, aka Taraxacum officinalis
Dracaena, aka Dracaena spp.
Dragon tree, aka Dracaena draco
Elm, aka Ulmus spp.
Eucalyptus, aka Beaucarnea recurvata
European Fan, aka Chamaerops humilis

Fir, aka Abies spp.
Gardenia, aka Gardenia jasminoides
Grape vine, aka Vitis spp.
Honeysuckle, aka Lonicera spp.
Impatiens, aka Impatiens spp.
Jade plant, aka Crassula ovata
Kalanchoe, aka Kalanchoe clossfeldiana
Kangaroo, aka vines Cissus antarctica
Larch, aka Larix spp.
Lemon balm, aka Melissa officianalis
Lilac, aka Syringa vulgaris and related species
Magnolia, aka Magnolia spp.
Manzanita, aka Arctostapylos manzanita
Marigold, aka Tagetes spp.
Nasturtium, aka Tropaeolum majus
Norfolk Island Pine, aka Araucaria exceIsa
Parsley, aka Petroselinum spp.
Purple passion flower, aka Passiflora caerulea
Peppermint, aka Mentha piperita
Petunia, aka Petunia spp.
Prayer plant, aka Maranta leuconeura
Rose, aka Rosa spp.
Spider plant, aka Chlorophytum comosum
Succulents (Hens and Chicks), aka Sempervivum tectorum
Umbrella Tree, aka Schefflera actinophylla
Violet, aka Viola spp.
Wandering Jew, aka Tradescantia zebrina

Poisonous Plants for Birds

Steer clear of these plants when you’re choosing accessories for your bird cage—they’re toxic to your feathered friend.

Amaryllis, aka Amaryllis spp.
Andromeda, aka japonica Pieris japonica
Asian lily, aka Lilium asiatica
Asparagus fern, aka Asparagus sprengeri
Australian nut, aka Macademia integrifolia
Autumn crocus, aka Colchium sp.
Avocado, aka Persea americana (pit, leaves, unripe fruit, and stems)
Azalea, aka Rhododendron sp.
Bird of Paradise, aka Poinciana and related spp. (Seed pods and flowers)
Bittersweet, American, aka Celastrus scandens
Bittersweet, European, aka Solanum dulcamara
Black locust, aka Robina pseudocacia
Branching ivy, aka Hedera helix
Buckeye, aka Aesculus spp.
Buddhist pine, aka Podocarpus macrophylla
Caladium, aka Caladium spp.
Calla lily, aka Zantedeschia aethiopica
Castor bean, aka Ricinus sp.
Ceriman, aka Monstera deliciosa
Charming diffenbachia, aka Diffenbachia amoena
Cherry, aka Prunus spp., (pits, leaves, and bark)
Chinaberry tree, aka Melia azedarach
Chinese evergreen, aka Aglaonema modestrum
Christmas rose, aka Helleborus niger
Clematis, aka Montana rubens
Cycad, Sago, Zamia palms, aka Cycad spp.
Daffodil, aka Narcissus tazetta
Day lily, aka Hemorocallis dumotirei
Deadly nightshade, aka Solanum spp.
Devil’s ivy, aka Epipremnum aureum
Dumb cane, aka Dieffenbachia sp.
Easter lily, aka Lilium longiflorum
Elephant Ears or Taro, aka Colocasia spp.
Emerald feather or fern, aka Asparagus densiflorus
English ivy, aka Hedera helix
Figs, aka Ficus spp. (sap)
Flamingo plant, aka Anthuruium sp.
Florida beauty, aka Dracaena spp.
Foxglove, aka Digitalis purpurea
Fruit salad plant, aka Philodendron pertusum

Garlic, aka Allium sativum
Glacier ivy, aka Hedera helix
Gladiolas, aka Gladiolas spp.
Glory lily, aka Gloriosa superba
Hyacinth, aka Hyacinthus oreintalis
Hydrangea, aka Hydrangea spp.
Iris, aka Iris spp.
Ivy (Boston, English and some others), aka Hedera spp.
Lace fern, aka Asparagus setaceus
Lilies, aka Lillium spp.
Lily of the Valley, aka Convallaria majalis
Macadamia nut, aka Macademia integrifolia
Marijuana, aka Cannabis sativa
Mistletoe, aka Phoradendron villosum
Morning glory, aka Ipomoea spp.
Mother-in-Law plant, aka Monstera sp.
Mushrooms, aka Amanita spp. and many others
Narcissus, aka Narcissus spp.
Nightshade, aka Solanum spp.
Oak, aka Quercus spp.
Oleander, aka Nerium oleander
Onion, aka Allium spp.
Orange day lily, aka Hemorocallis graminea
Peace lily, aka Spathiphyllum spp.
Peach, aka Prunus persica (leaves, pit, bark)
Pear, aka Pyrus spp. (leaves, seeds, bark)
Poinsettia, aka Euphorbia pulcherima
Potato, aka Solanum tuberosum (sprouts, leaves, berries, green tubers)
Pothos, aka Epipremnum sp.
Rhubarb, aka Rheum spp.
Saddle leaf philodendron, aka Philodendron selloum
Spotted dumb cane, aka Dieffenbachia picta
Stargazer lily, aka Lilium orientalis
Sweetheart ivy, aka Hedera helix
Swiss cheese plant, aka Monstera deliciosa
Tiger lily, aka Lilium tigrinum
Tomato, aka Lycopersicon esculentum (stems and leaves)
Tulip, aka Tulip sp.
Yew; Japanese, American, English & Western, aka Taxus spp.
Yucca, aka Yucca filamentosa

6 Safety Tips for Birds and Plants

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1. Consider not including plants.

Even though many people include plants in their pet birds’ cages, some experts are still wary, and you should be as well. Although live plants provide opportunities for enrichment and foraging, they also carry risks and difficulties that may outweigh those benefits. For example, keeping potted plants in a parrot’s cage can be difficult, as parrots have sharp beaks that can chew up not only the plants, but also the pots that house them. The soil in potted plants also can contain fungi, bacteria and parasites that all can cause illness in birds if they ingest them (or even touch them, in some cases).

2. Plan for careful cleaning.

Experts say that it can be challenging to keep a bird’s enclosure clean when there are live potted plants inside. The plants will have to be removed each time you clean the cage, and since birds are extremely sensitive to aerosolized toxins, plants can’t be sprayed with any chemicals while they are anywhere near birds.

3. Offer just leaves or branches.

Due to the risks associated with potting soil (i.e. fungi, bacteria and parasites), consider ditching the pots and simply offer leaves or branches to your pet bird.

4. Be prepared for parasites.

Mealy bugs and whiteflies can live on plants, and if they rear their ugly heads, you won’t be able to use chemicals to treat your plants, since your bird may accidentally ingest them. To create a barrier between the soil and your bird, it’s recommended to cover the substrate of the plants with a couple layers of clean, untreated river rocks, which can solve a bird’s temptation potential and make the soil beneath the rocks less accessible or attractive to foreign invaders, or at least fortify protection while allowing water to seep through to plant roots.

5. Trust your gut.

At the end of the day, if you just aren’t sure about a certain plant for your bird’s cage, don’t use it. And rely on expert-approved lists of safe plants instead.

6. Skip the plants if your bird is sick or injured.

Birds who are sick or injured should not be in a cage with plants. Plants can make it harder to monitor not only the bird, but also their appetite and eliminations. Also, birds with mobility issues are poorly suited to having live plants, unless they are specifically adapted for your bird’s needs.

Now you’re armed with all the knowledge you need to decide which plants to add to your bird’s cage. Thinking about spotting birds in the wild instead? Birding is super-trendy right now—here’s how to get started.

Expert input for this story provided by: Jeff Radzak, developer of the JWR Exotic Bird Environment Air System; Donna Muscarella, Ph.D., at the Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology at Cornell University’s Veterinary Medical Center; Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice), Owner of the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York and Professional Services Veterinarian for Specialty Pets at Chewy; August Abbott, a Certified Avian Specialist by the Pet Advocacy Network, JustAnswer Avian Health Expert and the founder of Broken Birds Sanctuary in Grass Valley, California; Natalie Antinoff DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) at Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital in Grapevine, Texas.

Attributions

Shelby Deering

Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer from Madison, Wisconsin. She specializes in writing about home design, health, and of course,

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