Everyone agrees Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous

I’ll say it again, Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous

I’m gonna lose my cool If I have to hear that my poinsettias are poisonous again! Evolve people! What’s the matter with you?! Why is it that you have to believe every fake flippin’ facebook repost saying poinsettias are poisonous? They’re not! Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous. Period.  *** Deep cleansing breath and yoga centering hand gesture ***  Okay, maybe I got a little over anxious there for a second. AND MAYBE… JUST MAYBE there’s a reason that people need to be told time and time again that and Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous. Look, this isn’t a “left leaning” website where we try and adjust your political views. It is just plain fact that Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous.

Here, let me even google for you that Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous

Go see for yourself . See? Everyone from pet poison helpline to webMD to the New York Times, have been saying, for years, that Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous. Still not convinced? Call poison control and ask them, if they don’t laugh at you and hang up, they’ll politely explain that Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous!!!!

Why then do people come to my house, see my poinsettia turn to me and instantly say, “oh! you’d better be careful of those around the pets and kids”? They never even got the joke that the reason I gave them a Dieffenbachia for their house warming was that the side effects of its poison would cause temporary mustism. Say it with me again, Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous. But you know what is, some of the most common houseplants in the world. Here, have a quick look at this quick guide table from dengarden.com. the rest of their article is awesome if you want to know why that Pothos in your parlor is more dangerous than the Dieffenbachia in your den.

Plant	Toxic to Humans	Toxic to Dogs	Toxic to Cats
Philodendron	Mildly	Yes	Yes
Pothos	Yes	Yes	Yes
Arrowhead	Mildly	Mildly	mildly
Lily	Moderately	Moderately	Yes
Peace Lily	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dieffenbachia	Moderately	Moderately	Moderately
Oleander	Extremely	Extremely	Extremely
Caladium	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mother-In-Law’s Tongue	Moderately	Moderately	Moderately
Ivy	Mildly	Yes	Yes

 

 So if Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous how did this rumor start

According to the University of Vermont, and various other corroborating resources

“The rumors arise from a highly questionable report of a single fatality in Hawaii more than 80 years ago, a child who reportedly died after eating one leaf. However, that doesn’t mean the poinsettia doesn’t have mildly toxic properties. If ingested by pets or humans, it can irritate the mouth and stomach, sometimes resulting in diarrhea or vomiting.”

What are we really driving at here?

The next time anyone tells you otherwise, explain to them that regardless of the old wive’s tales they’ve been sold, the whole world agrees Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous.  Just show them this article. Or give them a bite of your Dieffenbachia.