Is Tradescantia (Inch Plant) safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Speedy Henry. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Tradescantia zebrina) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for Tradescantia (Inch Plant)

The ASPCA records Tradescantia (Inch Plant) (Tradescantia zebrina, family Commelinaceae) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses. Clinical signs listed: Dermatitis. Read the ASPCA entry.

Dermatitis is the only clinical sign the ASPCA records here, which makes this plant behave unlike most toxic houseplants. The listed harm is skin irritation from contact with the sap, not the stomach upset people expect after a pet eats a leaf. So the thing to watch for is redness or soreness around the mouth and paws, and a pet can react after brushing against a broken stem without having eaten any of it.

The ASPCA files this entry under the scientific name Tradescantia flumeninsis, which is their spelling of Tradescantia fluminensis. This page and most nurseries label the plant Tradescantia zebrina. Those are two species in the same genus, not one plant under two names, and the ASPCA does not list zebrina separately. A search for zebrina in their database therefore returns nothing, which is an absent entry rather than a clean bill of health. This page treats the genus entry as the applicable one and errs toward caution.

What this verdict does and does not mean

Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

Safer alternatives

Looking for something with a similar look and habit that is pet-safe instead?

• Prayer Plant, see the care guide.
• Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant), see the care guide.
• Christmas Cactus, see the care guide.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for Tradescantia (Inch Plant), browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.