Rabbits and guinea pigs often get more free-roam time around a home than cats or dogs — supervised floor time, a running-around session outside the cage, or a permanent free-range setup in one room. That puts them at floor level with low shelves, plant stands, and pots right in their path, and both species are natural chewers that will happily gnaw on a leaf, a stem, or the pot itself out of curiosity as much as hunger. If you share a home with either, it’s worth choosing plants you don’t have to worry about the moment your pet gets loose.

Plants that are safe if nibbled

• Spider plant — Non-toxic and, notably, some rabbit owners report their rabbits eating it without issue — still not something to actively encourage, but low-risk if a leaf gets nibbled.
• Boston fern — Non-toxic and a good fit for a room with enough humidity, though its fronds hang low enough that a curious rabbit or guinea pig can reach them easily, so a hanging position still helps.
• Calathea — Non-toxic and low enough to the ground in most homes that it’s worth keeping on a stand or shelf out of easy reach regardless.
• Peperomia — Non-toxic, compact, and easy to keep on a shelf or table rather than the floor, which cuts down on temptation in the first place.
• Haworthia — Non-toxic and slow-growing, so an occasional nibble won’t set it back much even if one does happen.
• Areca palm — Non-toxic and tall enough that its fronds are usually out of chewing range once the plant matures, though young plants should still be kept up high.
• Parlor palm — Non-toxic and one of the more shade- tolerant palms, which makes it easy to place somewhere less accessible if your rabbit or guinea pig has run of a room without much natural light.

An honest caveat

Toxicity data for rabbits and guinea pigs is far less standardized than the ASPCA’s cat and dog database, which most “pet-safe plant” lists (including our own pet-safe houseplants for cats and dogs guide) lean on. Rabbit- and guinea-pig-specific toxicity information is scattered across rescue organizations, exotic vet resources, and owner forums, and it doesn’t always agree, especially for less common plants. When in doubt, keep any plant — even one on a “safe” list — out of reach rather than relying on the list alone, and check with an exotic-animal vet before assuming an unusual species is fine.

Why this list is separate from our other pet posts

We’ve also covered plants safe for leopard geckos, but that’s a different concern entirely — geckos live in an enclosure and only interact with plants placed inside a terrarium, not with houseplants around the room. Rabbits and guinea pigs are the opposite case: loose in the house, at floor level, and prone to chewing anything within reach, which is why this list focuses on general houseplants rather than terrarium-safe species.

The simplest fix

None of this replaces basic pet-proofing. Keep any plant — safe or not — up on a shelf, plant stand, or hanging basket if your rabbit or guinea pig has free run of a room, since even a non-toxic plant can leave a mess of soil and shredded leaves if a determined chewer gets to it.