Parrot-Safe Plants & Toxic Foods List
Parrots are curious creatures who will chew on anything within reach. Knowing which plants and foods are safe — and which are deadly — can save your bird's life.
✅ Safe Houseplants
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
- Boston Fern
- African Violet
- Bamboo Palm
- Swedish Ivy
- Prayer Plant
- Herbs: basil, oregano, thyme, cilantro, mint
❌ Toxic Plants — Keep Away
- Dieffenbachia — causes mouth swelling and breathing difficulty
- Philodendron — toxic calcium oxalate crystals
- Lilies — highly toxic
- Poinsettia — irritating sap
- Oleander — lethal even in small amounts
- Ivy (Hedera) — causes digestive distress
- Daffodil & Tulip bulbs — toxic alkaloids
✅ Safe Foods
Apples (no seeds), bananas, berries, broccoli, carrots, corn, cucumber, grapes, kale, mango, papaya, peas, peppers (even hot ones!), pomegranate, spinach, sweet potato, zucchini.
❌ Toxic Foods
Avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion, garlic, raw kidney beans, fruit pits, apple seeds, rhubarb, and mushrooms. Also avoid heavily salted, fried, or processed human foods.
Kitchen Dangers
Teflon (PTFE) coated cookware releases odorless fumes when overheated that are RAPIDLY FATAL to birds. Use stainless steel, ceramic, or cast iron cookware. Also dangerous: scented candles, air fresheners, self-cleaning oven cycles, and smoke.