10 Festive Plants That Are Actually Extremely Poisonous

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It’s no secret that the holiday season is full of twinkling lights, festive décor and, real talk, beautifully adorned homes. However, with the joyous holiday season, it’s easy to forget the hazards hidden in our decorations. The plants synonymous with the holidays are not as harmless as they appear. While some may seems enchanting, they can be a threat to children and pets if ingested.

Let’s unveil 10 holiday plants that are very pretty, but also extremely poisonous, and can cause more harm than you might imagine.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia have become a staple of the home for the holidays. Despite what people commonly believe, these plants are not as toxic. Poinsettias aren’t deadly, but can cause mild irritation to the stomach and skin if eaten or touched. The leaves may be nibbled by a pet or child and if so, this can cause nausea or vomiting. They’re not lethal, but keeping them out of reach is still a good idea.

Holly

Another festive plant, Holly, brightens up the holiday season with its glossy red berries, though they are in fact toxic if eaten. The berries contains a substance called saponin which can cause severe stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea. Ingestion can, in severe cases, lead to dehydration and lethargy. Holly plants can be especially attractive to children because of their bright berries, so it’s important to keep holly plants in a safe place.

Mistletoe

Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek/Wikimedia Commons

Mistletoe is one of those things that can be incredibly romantic during the holidays, but this plant can actually be very dangerous. Viscotoxin compounds in mistletoe can cause a variety of symptoms if ingested. A simple nibble may make you feel a bit sick or dizzy, but larger amounts can cause dangerously low blood pressure, a slowed heart rate and even seizures.

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus is a plant that many people believe to be safe, non-toxic. However, don’t let this festive beauty go to your head; it can still irritate the gastrointestinal tract in pets and small children. Although human injury is unlikely, the spines of the cactus can be a concern if your curious pet sits on the cactus or pokes it with its nose. It’s not as dangerous as some of the other plants on this list, but still, put it somewhere your pets can’t get to.

Amaryllis

Though a popular choice for adding color to households during the holiday season, amaryllis flowers can be harmful if ingested. In particular, the bulbs are highly toxic and when consumed symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and cardiac issues. If you have small children or pets who like to put things in their mouths, never place Amaryllis within their reach.

Lily

Many use lilies to decorate the holidays because they are such stunning flowers. But they are not cat friendly and even a little bit can cause kidney failure. Pet owners need to keep lilies well out of their pet’s range, or even better, pick a flower that will not harm their feline friend.

Norfolk Island Pine

Photo Credit: George E. Koronaios/Wikimedia Commons

While the Norfolk Island pine is often used as an indoor Christmas tree and it looks festive, it can be toxic to pets. The needles and any part of the tree can cause gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting and diarrhea, in a dog or cat if chewed on or ingested. It’s a favorite item with holiday decorators, so it’s a good idea to keep it out of the way of paws and mouths.

Christmas Rose

Hellebore or the Christmas rose is one of the most striking of flowers in winter gardens. While beautiful, it is a plant you don’t want to ingest if you want to remain happy, as eating it can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. This plant has its allure, but can be tempting for curious pets and small children, so it’s important to place this plant away from areas where your pets or children will come into contact with it.

Ivy

Another classic plant that often ends up in the home around the holidays is English ivy, a trailing houseplant or an accent for wreaths. The plant’s glossy leaves are lovely, but it is toxic when ingested and can cause drooling, nausea, and vomiting. While it is not fatal, it can be very distressing to those who have it. For pet owners, it’s especially important not to place ivy where the animals can reach it and chew on the leaves.

Yew

Another holiday favourite is the yew tree, also commonly seen in wreaths or outdoors. But it is toxic, and the toxins known as taxines are extremely poisonous to humans and animals. Dizziness, irregular heartbeat and even death can result from eating only a small amount of the berries or foliage. Over 100,000 cases of plant poisoning are reported each year in the U.S., according to the NIH, now you don’t want to be part of the statistics this holidays, so be watchful.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.