Plant guide
Norfolk Island pine
Araucaria heterophylla
Norfolk Island pine is considered non-toxic to cats. Its tiered branches suit a bright room. Keep cats from chewing the pointed foliage; this assessment does not cover yew or other plants called pine.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: Araucaria heterophylla only. Confirm the botanical label; a photograph cannot identify a visitor’s specimen.
Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Araucaria heterophylla
By Cindy Christian
License: CC BY 4.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Araucaria heterophylla
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Araucaria heterophylla only; the light and water categories summarize the cited growing guidance.
- Light
- Sunny position
Provide a bright, sunny position; afternoon shade may prevent foliage bleaching.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Water regularly during growth without saturating the mix; reduce watering in winter.
- Temperature
- Growing range: 55–65°F / 13–18°C
The reviewed indoor growing range is 55–65°F.
- Humidity
- Typical indoor humidity
It can adapt to ordinary indoor conditions.
- Potting
- Use fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained potting soil.
- Through the year
- Plan for increasing height and keep it in adequate light to retain lower branches.
Growing-guide sources
- Araucaria heterophylla - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Exact named species; garden conditions are not relabeled as indoor requirements.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Norfolk Island pine: plant safety reference ↗ASPCA Poison Control · Accessed
The current exact-species ASPCA Australian Pine entry and FirstVet veterinarian Ida Rappestad Ellebæk describe A. heterophylla as non-toxic to cats. The Cornell-hosted historical list calls it toxic, but explicitly cites an older ASPCA list rather than independent clinical research. This guide follows current ASPCA guidance and the veterinary answer while retaining that historical discrepancy and pointed-foliage caution. This assessment does not extend to other conifers.
- Norfolk Island pine: supporting reference ↗FirstVet · Accessed 2026-10-17
- Norfolk Island pine: supporting reference ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
- Historical plant toxicity list (2012) ↗Cornell Cooperative Extension (historical list) · Accessed 2026-10-17
Safety last reviewed .