Plant guide
Geraniums
Pelargonium spp.
Keep geraniums identified as Pelargonium away from cats that chew plants. They may cause stomach upset or skin irritation, and veterinary references differ on their overall safety classification.
What this guide covers: Pelargonium spp. only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Photo:
Photo details
Pelargonium spp. — Pelargonium
By Dinkum
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
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Photo:
Photo details
Pelargonium spp. — Pelargonium
By Dinkum
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Crocodile ivy-leaved geranium
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Look for Pelargonium spp. and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Pelargonium spp.
- Scope
- Genus-level group
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
Our practical recommendation
Your cat comes first.
Keep geraniums identified as Pelargonium away from cats that chew plants. They may cause stomach upset or skin irritation, and veterinary references differ on their overall safety classification.
Explore reviewed non-toxic plants ↗Why the guidance differs
ASPCA lists Pelargonium species as toxic to cats; VPIS lists the same genus as pet-safe. Preserve both sources and an unresolved caution classification. This does not cover the separate Geranium genus. Growing guidance below is for commonly grown ornamental pelargoniums; specialist species may differ.
A disagreement between references does not cancel a toxicity warning. We keep those warnings visible while the assessment remains unresolved.
Sources & review
ASPCA lists Pelargonium species as toxic to cats; VPIS lists the same genus as pet-safe. Preserve both sources and an unresolved caution classification. This does not cover the separate Geranium genus. Growing guidance below is for commonly grown ornamental pelargoniums; specialist species may differ.
Source scope and date
ASPCA · Source name: Pelargonium species. Pelargonium spp. only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Accessed .
Includes Pelargonium species in its pet-safe plant list.
Source scope and date
Veterinary Poisons Information Service · Source name: Pelargonium species. Pelargonium spp. only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Accessed .
Evidence checked . The cat-safety classification remains unresolved.
Find the right spot
How to grow this plant
Pelargonium spp. only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
- Light
- Sunny position
Full sun for typical ornamental pelargoniums.
- Watering
Allow container soil to dry between waterings; maintain good drainage.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Protect tender plants from frost; cool storage temperatures are not everyday growing ranges.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Well-drained soil or potting mix.
- Through the year
- Overwintering and dormancy vary by species. Avoid applying a summer-dormant species routine to every potted geranium.
Growing-guide sources
- Pelargonium spp. ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Pelargonium spp. only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.