This is a festive time, and one of the ways people of all faiths and traditions like to decorate is with festive plants! Christmas trees, poinsettias, holly and mistletoe—so many iconic plants are nearly synonymous with the holiday season. And while these are all good plants that bring color, joy, and life into our homes during the winter, some of them do need to be handled carefully in order to ensure the safety of people and animals. With that in mind, let’s dig in and learn a bit more about holiday plants and holiday plant safety!
A quick note: if you suspect that someone has ingested a poisonous plant or any other toxic substance, call 911/emergency services or contact the poison control center immediately.
A native of tropical Mexico, the poinsettia (Euphorbia spp.) is a staple of holiday décor both in the US and Canada and around the world. These are complex little plants, and we’ve written about them elsewhere. Caring for poinsettias at home can be interesting, and they absolutely add a wonderful burst of color indoors. In further good news: contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous or toxic. They are not edible—eating the leaves can cause mild stomach upset in both humans and animals—but they’re not on the list of poisonous plants. So let that concern go and enjoy these lovely botanical creations!
Holly and mistletoe are both holiday staples, full of tradition and symbolism across many cultures while also being lovely plants in their own rights. However, unlike poinsettias both holly and mistletoe can be toxic to humans and animals. Neither is likely to be fatal—one or two berries or leaves eaten by a child or pet are more likely to cause vomiting than any serious harm—but caution should be taken and if symptoms appear you should seek medical help. We recommend displaying these plants out of reach and away from food or beverages. If you’re hanging mistletoe, consider hanging it inside a clear plastic bag for additional safety.
Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are holiday plants—they’re so named because their blooms tend to coincide with those holidays—and they appear in homes around the world at this time of the year. They’re relatively easy to care for, beautiful, and best of all considered non-toxic. While you probably shouldn’t eat them, they can be safely displayed among your holiday decorations.
Let’s move on to the big one—Christmas trees! This is the time of year when these yuletide displays start to appear, and their bright decorations are a festive reminder that this is a time for celebration and gratitude. Most of the Christmas trees sold in the US are pine, spruce, or fir trees of various species, all of which are considered non-toxic. With that said there are still some safety considerations for Christmas trees. Dogs in particular are famous for chewing on the foliage, and the needles can cause choking if too many are ingested at once. Christmas trees may also pose a fire hazard if not carefully maintained, so please take a moment and review some fire safety guidelines for Christmas trees.
At Gardzen we believe that plants make everything better, and at this time of the year we love to include plants as part of our holiday celebrations. We hope you’ll join us in doing so, and in doing so safely! If you get a chance, send us some photos of your holiday plants—Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you!
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