Are Poinsettias Poisonous? Iowa Expert clears up a Holiday Myth

Can poinsettias really make you sick — or worse?

It’s a holiday rumor that’s been around for decades: the bright red-and-green plants that show up in homes every Christmas are supposedly deadly if eaten. According to an Iowa expert, that claim just doesn’t hold up.

“Poinsettias have gotten a really bad reputation over the years,” says Janna Day, a nurse and education and outreach manager with the Iowa Poison Control Center. “A lot of people think they’re poisonous or even deadly, but that’s simply not true.”

Day says research has shown the plant is far less dangerous than many people believe. In fact, one study found a child would need to eat around 500 poinsettia leaves to become seriously poisoned — and even then, the leaves don’t taste good, making that scenario highly unlikely.

“If someone were to swallow a few leaves, they might have some mild stomach upset,” Day says. “But you would have to ingest a lot to become seriously ill.”

Because of that, Day says poinsettias are considered low-risk and are safe to keep in homes, including places like nursing homes and care facilities.

Pet owners often worry, too, since dogs and cats are known to nibble on houseplants. Day says poinsettias usually aren’t a major concern there either.

“They could cause a little stomach upset in pets,” she says, “but it would take quite a bit to make an animal really sick.”

While poinsettias get a bad rap, Day says other holiday plants deserve more caution. Holly berries and mistletoe can be toxic and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

If there’s ever a concern about a possible exposure, the Iowa Poison Control Center is available 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222.

As for poinsettias, they’ve been part of Christmas celebrations for centuries. Native to Mexico, the plants were once cultivated by the Aztecs and later used in holiday processions by Franciscan priests. They made their way to the U.S. in 1825, when diplomat Joel Robert Poinsett introduced them — and the plant was eventually named in his honor.

So while poinsettias may look dramatic, experts say they’re more festive than frightening.