Buzz
Poinsettias are as much a part of Christmas as the scent of pine trees and the glow of mistletoe. Each year, they make their way from greenhouses and store shelves into our homes, and each year, someone—usually a well-meaning, though misinformed, family member—warns us to keep them away from babies, cats, or dogs, claiming they’re highly poisonous.
The myth dates back to 1919, when a 2-year-old child in Hawaii allegedly ate poinsettia leaves and became ill with symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and delirium, later passing away. Although the cause was never confirmed as poisoning, the tale spread widely and eventually became part of the deadly poinsettia mythos.
In truth, while Euphorbia pulcherrima isn’t something you should casually nibble on, it’s far from being a lethal plant.
Since the first reports out of Hawaii, extensive research has been conducted on poinsettias, and none of it has uncovered anything to be truly concerned about.
Lab Rats
Scientists have subjected animals to poinsettia leaves and flowers, even applying the plant’s sap directly to their eyes and skin. They’ve closely observed their reactions and even performed internal examinations. In all of these studies, consuming poinsettia leaves never resulted in any signs of poisoning (though sap on the skin is another issue, which we’ll discuss shortly).
The largest dose of poinsettia I found in an experiment was 25 grams per kilogram of body weight, which had no toxic effects on lab rats. According to the researchers behind the study, if there were no significant differences between species, a 50-pound child, dog, or large cat would need to consume over a pound of poinsettia leaves to reach that dosage.
However, different animals have varying levels of toxin tolerance, and scavengers like rats tend to handle toxins better than others. Because we can't ethically test poinsettia toxicity directly on humans, we rely on animal models to give us an idea of the plant’s danger. Even with that in mind, reaching the experimental dose would require a person or pet to eat hundreds of poinsettia leaves, which are known to be incredibly bitter and unpleasant in taste.
Real World Cases
One way researchers can assess toxicity in humans is by examining real-world poisoning incidents outside of the lab. In 1996, experts from the Pittsburgh Poison Center and nearby universities analyzed over 22,000 poinsettia exposure reports filed with poison control centers—nearly 94 percent of which involved children. The findings? No fatalities and in 92.4 percent of the cases, there were no toxic effects. Most of the remaining cases had only mild symptoms. Only one case was categorized as having a 'major effect,' but further investigation led the researchers to conclude that this was likely a data entry error.
To sum it up: Despite Aunt Edna’s warnings, the research suggests that poinsettias are so minimally toxic (if at all) that even if a child or pet were to nibble on them, they would experience only minor to moderate symptoms such as nausea or stomach aches. However, the plant’s sap can cause skin irritation and discomfort to both animals and humans, potentially leading to rashes and soreness. Unpleasant? Yes. Life-threatening? No.
Everything Else You Should Know About Poinsettias
The poinsettia’s roots trace back to ancient Mexico, where the Aztecs grew it under the name cuitlaxochitl. They used its leaves to dye fabric, its sap to treat fevers, and the entire plant as a symbol of purity in religious rituals. The plant didn’t thrive in their high-altitude capital, Tenochtitlan, so the rulers had to import it from the lower-altitude regions. Montezuma is said to have been so enamored with the plant that he sent caravans to gather thousands of them for his palace.
In the 1820s, Joel R. Poinsett became the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. While serving in this role, he also had a keen interest in botany. Captivated by the striking red and green plants he encountered, he sent cuttings back to his greenhouse in the U.S. American horticulturists quickly began cultivating the plant and promoting it as a popular houseplant. By 1836, botanical magazines and other publications had adopted the name poinsettia, honoring the man who introduced it to the country.
Aside from Poinsett, perhaps no one did more to boost the poinsettia's popularity in America than the Eckes. In 1900, German immigrant Albert Ecke and his family were en route to open a health spa in Fiji. When they reached Los Angeles, they decided to stay and settled there. They planted orchards and fields of flowers, including chrysanthemums, gladioli, and poinsettias.
The family soon realized that the poinsettia, which bloomed in early winter around the holidays, had the potential to be a profitable seasonal crop. They began marketing the plant aggressively as a 'Christmas flower.' This strategy wasn’t far off the mark, as the plant was already part of Christmas celebrations in its native Mexico, where it was called la flor de la nochebuena, or 'the flower of the Holy Night.'
