Is Poinsettia Poisonous?

The myth 'are poinsettias poisonous' was born about 80 years ago. It is said a 2 year old baby of an Army officer allegedly died after eating a poinsettia leaf. Since then people have started to believe that poinsettias are poisonous.

Interesting Information on Poinsettia
Poinsettia are beautiful star shaped red blooms. These are popular Christmas flowering plants that are used to adorn the Christmas trees and fireplace. The red flowers are popular, but Poinsettias come in many colors like pink, yellow, salmon and white & red.

The origin of the name Poinsettia originated from Joel Robert Poinsett. He was the first American Ambassador to Mexico. He loved this plant so much that he brought it back home to South Carolina from Mexico.

The red blooms are not flowers, but they are pigmented leaves. The flowers are actually yellowish buds that are found in the center. They are ornamental houseplants with many health benefits. They are very helpful in removing the harmful pollutants like formaldehyde that is found in plywood. The 12th of December is celebrated as the Poinsettia Day as these are one of the most popular plants in America.

Is Poinsettia Poisonous?
Despite their popularity in America reaching sky high, people are convinced that poinsettias are poisonous. Poinsettias are not edible plants and are not meant to be eaten even by pets or livestock. This is because it may lead to an upset tummy.

Various tests have been conducted and reports submitted to the U.S. Poison Control. But have proved no deaths and even medical treatment required by the 22,793 calls made to the health officials after accidental ingestion of the plant. It was found that large quantities of plant ingested may cause a person to fall ill. Even this scenario was found to be very, very rare.

The milky sap of the poinsettias may cause some irritation of the mouth and digestive tract. People who are sensitive to the sap may get an itchy rash. Thus, do not rub your eyes or skin after touching the plant, if you are one of the sensitive kinds.

What to do if a Child Eats Poinsettia Leaves?
If a child eats stems or leaves do not panic. Just rinse the child's mouth with water. The child may develop a mild stomach ache, vomiting or diarrhea. If the child has touched the poinsettia plant, you should ask him to wash the affected area with soap and water. In case your child develops a severe allergy or reaction to the poinsettia plant, seek immediate medical help.

This plant may be mildly toxic but it is not poisonous. If your pet cat or dog eats one leaf of poinsettia, the animal may not develop any kind of symptoms. At the most the gastrointestinal tract irritation may lead to diarrhea. Older animals may vomit and have a bad stomach upset. You can proudly display your beautiful poinsettias in your home without having to worry about them begin poisonous. Just make sure little kids and animals are kept away to avoid an upset tummy for either of them. I hope this article on, is poinsettia poisonous has helped eased your worries and provided you with a valid answer that they are safe.