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Is poinsettias poisonous


Are poinsettias poisonous? | Poison Control

The Bottom Line

The poinsettia plant is often considered deadly. That's wrong. Poinsettia can be irritating but it is not fatal if eaten. If children and pets eat it, they can develop a mouth rash and stomach upset. The sap can cause a skin rash, too.

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The Full Story

The poinsettia is well known for its bright red and green colors. It is a very common household plant, especially around the winter holidays. The plant was first discovered in Mexico and brought into the United States by the first minister to Mexico, Dr. Joel Poinsett.

This festive plant is not deadly, but some stories just won't go away.  Over a hundred years ago, a child was found next to a wild poinsettia plant. He died and people blamed the plant. This hasn't happened since. Researchers even tried to find out what the poisonous dose of poinsettia might be and they just couldn't, even after reaching experimental doses of about 1. 25 pounds (500-600 leaves). The plant does not have dangerous effects when eaten.

In most cases, exposure to any parts of the poinsettia plant in children or pets has very little if any effect. If swallowed, it may cause mild irritation: nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Touching it may cause a rash. There have been reports of gardeners who work with the plant frequently developing a rash from handling the plant.

So, you don't have to completely eliminate the plant from your home. After all, it makes for a great holiday décor. But you still should prevent your child or pet from swallowing it by storing it out of their reach. It can pose a choking hazard. And, it is always nice to avoid having to deal with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or a skin rash.  

Rose Ann Gould Soloway, RN, BSN, MSEd, DABAT emerita
Clinical Toxicologist

Serkalem Mekonnen, RN, BSN, MPH
Certified Specialist in Poison Information

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Prevention Tips

This Really Happened

On Christmas Day, a 10-month-old child put a small piece of a leaf from a poinsettia plant in his mouth. His mother was concerned and called Poison Control for advice. The poison specialist reassured the mother that no problems were expected. The mom was advised to simply wipe the child’s mouth and to give him something to drink. 

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For More Information

Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Plants: An Illustrated List 

For Pets: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Poisonous Plants

References

Evens Z, Stellpflug S. Holiday plants with toxic misconceptions. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2012 Dec;13(6):538-542.

Winek CL, Butala J, Shanor SP, et al. Toxicology of poinsettia. Clin Toxicol. 1978;13:27-45.

Poisoned?

Call 1-800-222-1222 or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

This Really Happened

On Christmas Day, a 10-month-old child put a small piece of a leaf from a poinsettia plant in his mouth. His mother was concerned and called Poison Control for advice. The poison specialist reassured the mother that no problems were expected. The mom was advised to simply wipe the child’s mouth and to give him something to drink. 

Poinsettia plant exposure Information | Mount Sinai

Christmas flower poisoning; Lobster plant poisoning; Painted leaf poisoning

Poinsettia plants, commonly used during the holidays, are not poisonous. In most cases, eating this plant does not result in a trip to the hospital.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Diterpene esters

Where Found

Leaves, stem, sap of the poinsettia plant

Symptoms

Poinsettia plant exposure can affect many parts of the body.

EYES (IF DIRECT CONTACT OCCURS)

STOMACH AND INTESTINES (SYMPTOMS ARE MILD)

SKIN

Home Care

Take the following steps if a person is exposed to the plant.

  1. Rinse the mouth out with water if leaves or stems were eaten.
  2. Rinse eyes with water, if needed.
  3. Wash the skin of any area that appears irritated with soap and water.

Before Calling Emergency

Seek medical help if the person has a severe reaction.

Poison Control

Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does not need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

The provider will measure and monitor person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as needed.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well the person does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster the person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

This plant is not considered toxic. People most often make a full recovery.

DO NOT touch or eat any unfamiliar plant. Wash your hands after working in the garden or walking in the woods.

Auerbach PS. Wild plant and mushroom poisoning. In: Auerbach PS, ed. Medicine for the Outdoors. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:374-404.

Lim CS, Aks SE. Plants, mushrooms, and herbal medications. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 158.

McGovern TW. Dermatoses due to plants. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 17.

Ryan ET, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aronson NE, Endy TP. Poisonous plants and aquatic animals. In: Ryan ET, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aronson NE, Endy TP, eds. Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 139.

Last reviewed on: 11/13/2021

Reviewed by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

New Year's flower poinsettia

New Year, Christmas... Despite the fluffy snow and minus outside the window, at the mention of these holidays, the heart becomes warm and joyful. These are the favorite days of most people all over the planet. The time of colorful lights and magic, incredible decorations and miracles, children's laughter and fulfillment of desires. It is also a great occasion to give gifts to each other.

It is up to you to decide what it will be: a practical, useful gift or a small trinket that will remind you of some important event for you or tell you about your feelings. Or maybe it will be a flower? Fine, live decoration of your house. And if it also looks festive, then such a gift will definitely conquer the one to whom you present it. In this article we will talk about such a delightful plant as poinsettia. This article will be relevant for those who are just choosing a gift and for those who received a similar surprise and do not know how to take care of it. nine0003

History

Despite the fact that this representative of the flora is popular in the cold season for the winter holidays, hot Mexico is its homeland. It is known that even the Aztecs had an acquaintance with this flower. Healing decoctions were prepared from its leaves, and the leader Montezuma admired the beauty of this flower. In its native land, this evergreen shrub reaches a rather large size - up to 2.5-3 meters in height. Its flowering coincides with Christmas and New Year, which was the reason for the interest of Catholic priests. They named this plant Holy Night Flower. In fact, this beauty has many names. nine0003

Poinsettia got its name thanks to the American ambassador Poinsett, who was struck by the beauty of this shrub and brought it to his homeland in the 19th century, where he began to grow it in his garden. Another name - euphorbia - arose after the doctor Euphorb discovered the healing properties of this plant in ancient times. In addition to the above names, there is also the Christmas Star, the Star of Bethlehem, and from the Latin poinsettia is translated as the most beautiful spurge.

A bit of botany

The poinsettia belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.

As we said above, in the wild it is a tall three-meter shrub. At home, milkweed hybrids do not exceed 30-40 cm. The leaves of different varieties may differ slightly in shape: from ovate-elliptical to lanceolate, but they all have a jagged edge and a reddish petiole. At the end of the shoots, inconspicuous, small flowers bloom like an umbrella, but that part of the plant that everyone takes for flower petals is actually leaves painted in a bright color. nine0003

Important!

The poinsettia is poisonous. The roots, stems and leaves of this plant are poisonous. Not fatal, but not pleasant. Like all members of the family, it has a milky juice, which, if it comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes, can cause burns, and if ingested, it will lead to gastrointestinal disorders. For these reasons, limit access to the green dweller to small children and pets.

What should I pay attention to when buying? nine0007

Unfortunately, most stores do not take into account the needs of the "star" during transportation and do not monitor temperature, humidity and lighting. And in the store itself, tropical guests stand in close rows on the shelves, and receive a maximum of either excessive or rare watering. When buying, pay attention to the soil: it should not be too dry, but there is no place for a swamp in a pot either.

Notice the green itself. The presence of wilted or dry leaves, and even more so parasites or signs of disease, is not acceptable. Make your choice in favor of euphorbia with unopened buds. You or the person to whom you present such an exquisite surprise will enjoy flowering as long as possible. nine0003

Pay attention to the color of the upper leaves. Breeders have obtained varieties with different shades of red, peach-pink, lemon and white flowers of the bracts. And also a variety with red bracts, on which white spots are scattered, looks very unusual.

When you bring spurge into the house, do not rush to transplant it. Place it on a well-lit windowsill, maintaining a warm temperature of at least 18 degrees and keeping it out of drafts. Maintain moderate watering. In the spring, after it has faded, it can be transplanted. nine0003

Flower care

The Christmas star blooms from December to March. Depending on the variety and conditions of detention, flowering lasts from a week to several months. If your gift has not yet blossomed flowers, then make sure that the daylight hours are short - no more than 9-10 hours. At other times, cover it with an impervious container, such as a box. This will help the bracts acquire an elegant color. But with the advent of inflorescences, more light will be required, but avoid direct sunlight. nine0003

Comfortable temperature is 21-24 ̊С above zero. When ventilating, avoid drafts. At low temperatures, the upper leaves will lose their bright color, and the root system will begin to die in the cold. Therefore, when buying, make sure that the flower is not in the cold, or try to insulate it before transporting.

When watering, you need to know the measure. Little is better, but often. Watering is carried out with settled water at room temperature. Greens can be moistened with a spray bottle. nine0003

To maintain lush flowering, it is a good idea to feed the Star of Bethlehem with suitable fertilizers, for example, a special complex for flowering plants.

Post bloom care

After the New Year's gift completes its flowering, he needs to rest and gain strength for the next long-awaited holiday. And we must contribute to this process in every possible way. After the end of flowering, slightly reduce watering. As soon as the leaves begin to wither, we cut the stems about half. nine0003

We move them to a dark, cool room and let them rest for about 2 months, occasionally watering to prevent the soil from drying out. In the second half of spring, the vacation ends and the beauty can be transplanted for further growth.


Transplanting, soil and pruning

When transplanting, take a slightly larger container so that the root system can develop comfortably. Do not completely clean the roots from the old earth, this can lead to damage to the roots and further disease and death of the plant itself. At the bottom of the tank, be sure to place drainage in the form of small pebbles or expanded clay. The soil can be purchased ready-made, suitable for a Christmas star, or you can make it yourself. nine0003

The second option is preferable for any representative of the plant world. An approximate composition for euphorbia is as follows: soddy and leafy soil, and adding humus and coarse sand to them in a ratio of 3:2:1:1. Before compiling the substrate, calcine the soil in the oven or pour boiling water for a long time. This will help kill pests. After that, feel free to expose the poinsettia to a warm place with a temperature of at least 21 ̊ C and start actively "watering" it, provoking active growth. At the onset of the growing season, leave 5-6 of the strongest shoots, and remove the rest. They can be used to produce new, young plants. nine0003

Reproduction

This process takes place with the help of cuttings and will not take you much time and nerves. Put those shoots that you cut off after waking up in water for 5 minutes so that excess milky juice flows out. Then plant them in pre-prepared containers with moist soil, cover with polyethylene and place in a warm, bright place. Periodically ventilate and moisten the soil. When the shoots take root, the homemade greenhouse can be removed. To form a bushy shape, the stem must be pinched so that it does not grow in height, but forms new side shoots. nine0003

Top dressing

This stage is extremely important for getting a strong, healthy plant and excellent flowering. Purchased complex fertilizer for flowering plants is perfect for your beauty.

Pre-flowering

Already from the end of the first autumn month, spurge begins to prepare for the brightest period in his life. Remove all top dressing and begin to gradually reduce daylight hours. Find last year's box and limit the light as described above. Starting in November, stop light manipulation, and resume watering and maintenance in a warm corner of your home. nine0003

Diseases and pests

Unfortunately, no plant is immune from various kinds of problems. And the poinsettia is no exception. We will name just some of the obstacles to the health of the New Year miracle and will try to help you eliminate them.

Agree, caring for a poinsettia is completely simple, but at the same time you get a delightful decoration for wonderful, magical holidays. nine0003

Let this elegant flower please you and fill your house with bright colors, and we want to wish you good health and simple human happiness! Merry christmas and a happy new year!

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Is the beautiful poinsettia poisonous and can it poison you and your cat?

Useful information

Admin, November 23, 2018 - 17:00

Poinsettia, also known as the Star of Bethlehem, is without a doubt a flower loved by many. It has entered the "canon" of obligatory holiday decorations, almost like a traditional New Year and Christmas tree. Although the plant beautifully decorates our homes, many fear that the poinsettia is a poisonous plant and can cause allergies.

A lot of negative opinions have accumulated around her, which, however, do not always correspond to reality. Find out if the poinsettia is poisonous or not, in whom it can cause allergies, and what threatens contact with the juice flowing from the shoots of the flower. nine0003

Poinsettia - Christmas star - poisonous to humans or not?

The tissues of the poinsettia contain a poisonous white milky juice, just like all other members of the family. This juice contains euphorbic acid, euphorbin and cyanogenic compounds, which can painfully burn the skin, cause inflammation, and if it gets into the eyes, even temporarily blind a person.

Poisonous juices are found in the root, leaves and stems. It is also worth knowing that the bracts that delight us (those that turn so beautifully red) owe their color to dyes belonging to anthocyanins. nine0003

All this sounds menacing. And so much so that some believe that the name of the plant comes from the English. the word poison, meaning "poison". But this is just complete nonsense! The name "poinsettia" comes from the surname Poinsett of a man named Joel Roberts who brought the Star of Bethlehem from Mexico to the United States.

In practice, as it turns out, information about the strong toxic effect and toxicity of poinsettia is greatly exaggerated. Although the Star of Bethlehem can cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting after ingestion, in practice, this accounts for less than 10% of human consumption of the plant. The ailment is usually very mild and rare. nine0003

However, if a poinsettia flower has appeared in the house, it should be installed in a place inaccessible to small children, and while caring for the plant, avoid direct contact with juices that can leak out, for example, when breaking a branch. But there is no need to exaggerate. The sheer number of indoor plants grown in our apartments can be far more poisonous than the Star of Bethlehem.

Can poinsettias cause allergies?

Growing poinsettias should be avoided by people who are allergic to latex. Almost every second person with this type of it has symptoms of sensitization upon direct contact with the Star. The result of such contact can be inflammation of the skin, mucous membranes, and much less often - an attack of allergic asthma. nine0003

In this regard, the damaged parts of the plant, from which the juice flows, should be handled with care, try not to get dirty, and even more so - do not rub the eyes with milk. Wash your hands thoroughly after work, just in case.

Will the Christmas star be poison to your cat or dog?

The toxicity of poinsettia to pets is low. So, for example, in the case of cats, the risk can generally be defined as small. Plants such as azalea, oleander, clivia, Persian cyclamen or the very popular ficus benjamin are much more dangerous for a cat. nine0003

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However, it is worth knowing that if the juices of the Christmas star come into contact with the mucous membranes of the animal, they can cause severe irritation and pain. And if swallowed, severe diarrhea and vomiting can occur, eventually leading to dehydration of the pet.

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