Holiday Plants: Which Are Toxic and Which Are Safe
Check out this list of common holiday plants and the risks they pose.
Quick Reference: Are Holiday Plants Toxic?
- Poinsettia: mildly toxic. Stomach upset if eaten in quantity, minor skin irritation from broken leaves. The deadly reputation is an urban legend.
- Holly berries and mistletoe: toxic. Both can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach or intestinal discomfort. Keep away from children and pets.
- Jerusalem Cherry (Winter Cherry): highly toxic. Do not confuse it with the harmless Christmas Pepper Plant.
- Christmas Pepper Plant and holiday cactus: not toxic, though the peppers are hot and cactus fibers can upset a pet’s stomach.
- If a child or pet eats any plant: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or the ASPCA hotline at 1-888-426-4435.
The holiday season brings greenery indoors, and many of us have already begun to “deck the halls” with the bright flowering plants of December. With so many decorations brightening the house, parents and pet parents rightly wonder whether these trappings of holiday cheer could also do harm. The short answer is that a few are genuinely dangerous, a couple are milder than their reputation suggests, and several are perfectly safe. Here is a plain-English rundown of the most common holiday plants and the risks each one presents to your family, two-legged and four-legged alike.
Holiday Plants And Their Toxicity
Toxicity is not all or nothing. Some of these plants only cause trouble when a curious pet eats a large amount, while others are risky in even small doses. Use the summary table below as your at-a-glance guide, then read on for the details on each plant.
| Holiday Plant | Toxic to Pets and People? | Main Symptoms if Eaten |
|---|---|---|
| Poinsettia | Mildly toxic | Mouth and stomach irritation, drooling, vomiting in quantity |
| Holly (berries) | Toxic | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea |
| Mistletoe | Toxic | Stomach and intestinal discomfort |
| Jerusalem Cherry (Winter Cherry) | Highly toxic | Hallucinations, vomiting, drowsiness, restlessness |
| Christmas Pepper Plant | Not toxic | Hot to eat, may burn the mouth or skin |
| Holiday Cactus | Not toxic | Possible mild stomach upset from fibrous material |
Poinsettia
The most popular holiday plant of all, the poinsettia adds festive color to homes every December. But it carries a common misconception that it is highly toxic, a belief tied in part to an urban legend about an Army officer’s 2-year-old daughter, who allegedly died in 1919 after eating a poinsettia leaf. That rumor has never been medically or scientifically proven, yet it has circulated for years and taken on a life of its own. In truth, poinsettia leaves do cause stomach upset, along with diarrhea and vomiting, if eaten in quantity, for instance if an unsupervised pet were to consume an entire plant.
Eating a single leaf is unlikely to produce any serious ill effects, aside from the reportedly unpleasant taste and possibly some diarrhea. Contact with broken leaves can also cause minor skin irritation. Either way, it is wise to keep poinsettias out of reach of pets and children. If you want the full story on how the poinsettia got its fearsome and largely undeserved reputation, the plant’s documented history traces the legend and the science that debunked it.
Holly
Those glossy leaves and bright red berries are a Christmas classic, but the berries are the problem. Eating them can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. A child or pet drawn to the cheerful red fruit is the usual concern, so keep holly well away from both.
Mistletoe
A sprig of mistletoe hung in a doorway is a beloved tradition, but the plant itself deserves respect. Eating the leaves, berries, or flowers can cause sharp intestinal and stomach discomfort. After handling the berries, it is best to wash your hands. Keep mistletoe away from children and pets, and hang it high enough that curious hands and paws cannot reach.
Jerusalem Cherry – Highly Toxic
This is the one to take most seriously. Eating this dangerous plant can result in hallucinations, vomiting, drowsiness, and restlessness. It can also cause skin irritation in some people. The plant is sometimes called ornamental pepper, so be sure you are not confusing it with the plant below. The bright, round, cherry-sized fruits look tempting to a child, which is exactly why the Jerusalem Cherry, Solanum pseudocapsicum, has no place in a home with little ones or pets.
Christmas Pepper Plant -Important!
Ornamental peppers, better known as the Christmas Pepper Plant, Capsicum annuum, are not toxic. Here is the catch: do not confuse this plant with the Winter Cherry Plant, Solanum pseudocapsicum, described just above, which is highly toxic to humans and pets. The two can look alike on a windowsill. The peppers themselves are edible but genuinely hot, so a nibble can burn the mouth or leave capsaicin on the skin. Keep them out of reach of small children who might mistake them for a sweet treat.
Holiday Cactus – Safe
Good news to close on. The Christmas or Thanksgiving Cactus, and its relative the Easter Cactus, is not toxic to pets in either its parts or its flowers. Keep in mind, though, that chewing on the fibrous plant material can irritate the stomach and intestines, which may lead to vomiting or diarrhea. If you want to keep a holiday cactus blooming and healthy for years, our Gardening by the Moon Calendar can help you time repotting and feeding.
A Few More Holiday Plants to Watch
The plants above are the usual suspects, but a few other seasonal favorites are worth a mention. Amaryllis, the tall trumpet-flowered bulb that blooms indoors around the holidays, can cause vomiting, drooling, and low blood pressure in pets. Lilies, sometimes tucked into winter arrangements, are especially dangerous to cats, where even a small amount can lead to kidney trouble. English ivy, popular in garlands and centerpieces, can cause drooling and an upset stomach if chewed. When in doubt about any plant, the ASPCA keeps a searchable list of toxic and non-toxic plants for pets that is worth a bookmark before you decorate.
What to Do If a Child or Pet Eats a Holiday Plant
Most of the time a small taste leads to nothing worse than an upset stomach, but it always pays to act calmly and quickly. Take the plant away, wipe out any pieces left in the mouth, and note how much may have been eaten. Do not try to force vomiting unless a professional tells you to. Then make the call.
While most decorative holiday plants pose minimal risk, never hesitate to call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222, or the ASPCA poison control number, which charges a fee, at 1-888-426-4435 in case of ingestion. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Keep both numbers on the refrigerator through the season, right next to the holiday cards.
Holiday Plants and Toxicity: Frequently Asked Questions
Are poinsettias poisonous to humans and pets?
Poinsettias are only mildly toxic, not deadly. Eating a single leaf is unlikely to cause serious harm beyond an unpleasant taste and possibly some diarrhea, and broken leaves can cause minor skin irritation. Eating a large amount can bring on stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting, so keep the plant out of reach of pets and children.
Which holiday plant is the most dangerous?
The Jerusalem Cherry, also called the Winter Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum), is the most toxic on this list. Eating it can cause hallucinations, vomiting, drowsiness, and restlessness, and it can irritate the skin. Its bright, cherry-sized fruits look tempting to children, so it is best kept out of homes with little ones or pets.
Is the Christmas Pepper Plant the same as the Jerusalem Cherry?
No, and confusing the two is a real risk because they look alike. The Christmas Pepper Plant (Capsicum annuum) is an ornamental pepper that is not toxic, though the peppers are hot to eat. The Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) is highly toxic. If you cannot tell which plant you have, treat it as the toxic one and keep it away from children and pets.
Are holly and mistletoe berries poisonous?
Yes. Holly berries can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Mistletoe leaves, berries, and flowers can cause stomach and intestinal discomfort, and it is smart to wash your hands after handling the berries. Hang both high and keep them away from children and pets.
Is the Christmas cactus safe for cats and dogs?
Yes. The Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, and Easter Cactus are not toxic to pets in their parts or flowers. The one caution is that chewing the fibrous plant material can irritate a pet’s stomach and intestines, which may cause vomiting or diarrhea. It is a good pick if you want a festive plant that is safe around animals.
What should I do if my pet or child eats a holiday plant?
Take the plant away, clear any pieces from the mouth, and note how much may have been eaten. Do not force vomiting unless a professional advises it. Then call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which charges a fee, at 1-888-426-4435. When in doubt, make the call. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
