ADULTPLANTS

Pteridaceae

2 species in this database

All 2 Pteridaceae species in this database are listed non-toxic to cats and dogs. They water every 2 to 7 days.

PlantLightWaterPet safeDifficulty
Maidenhair fernAdiantum raddianum Low 2–5d Yes Difficult
Table fernPteris cretica Low 3–7d Yes Moderate

What these share

Derived from the 2 entries above, not asserted about the family at large.

Watering range across the familyEvery 2 to 7 days for a 6-inch pot indoors
Native habitat recordedtropical understory, temperate forest floor
Toxic to cats and dogs0 of 2
Least demanding hereTable fern, Moderate. Scores 3 of 5: easier than a maidenhair and less forgiving than a blue star. It will not survive drying out once, and variegated forms need slightly more light than plain green ones.

Family membership is a rough guide to care, not a rule. It predicts toxic principle far better than it predicts watering: species in the same family routinely come from different habitats, and habitat is what sets the interval. Read the individual entry before acting on anything here.

Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — family placement for 1 of 2 species (example)
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control — toxicity classification, cited per species on each entry
  3. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — poison severity where published
  4. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — pest and disease guidance, cited per species

Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Every figure on this page is computed from the species entries listed above. Nothing here is a claim about Pteridaceae beyond the plants in this database.