What Are the Dangers of Poinsettia Flowers?

Choking Hazard

• Like any small object, the leaves of a poinsettia can cause a chocking hazard for small children and pets if swallowed. If you have young children or animals that tend to eat plant leaves, it's a good idea to put your poinsettia plants up high or in a location where those who might choke can't reach them.

Irritation and Sensitivity

• While poinsettia leaves and flowers aren't poisonous, that doesn't mean that there is no danger in consuming them, explains horticulturist Ron Smith. Poinsettia leaves contain an alkaloid substance that can be irritating to mucus membranes, such as are found in the mouth and throat. If someone consumes these leaves, they can be bothersome in that way. Poinsettia leaves also contain a sap that some people react badly to.

Pesticides

• A more indirect hazard of poinsettia leaves is that these plants are sometimes treated with pesticides, and pesticides can make people and animals sick if they make it into your system.

Statistics

• Despite the bad reputation of the plants, in a study cited by InteliHealth.com, no fatalities have been linked to poinsettia plants, out of 23,000 accidental ingestions. The vast majority of those people had no negative symptoms from consuming the leaves or flowers, and those that did had relatively minor stomach problems, such as nausea and vomiting.

What to Do

• If you discover your child or pet has consumed poinsettia leaves or flowers, don't panic. Call a medical professional for advice. Likely, you will be told to wait and watch for symptoms.