5 Holiday Plants That Can Put A Damper on the Season’s Festivities

Let’s take a look at Appalachian traditional plants used to decorate during the holidays, and see how safe and healthy these choices are for children and pets.

In WNC, Thanksgiving marks the week that many families bring out the decorations in earnest for the holiday season. The scent of evergreen and spice simply cannot be beat. Traditional choices for garlands and centerpieces often include these five holiday plants: Christmas tree, holly, ivy, mistletoe, and poinsettias.

The wonder of childhood sometimes involves touching and tasting as a way of experiencing the world. The lights and colors are so pretty, who can resist? Almost every family has a story of how a little one ate an ornament or put a holly berry up her nose. Or, the cat that ate the poinsettia. So, as grown ups, it’s up to us to be ever vigilant.

Santa’s not the only one who needs to keep an eye on those little ones! Here are my top five plants to keep out of the reach of children (and fur babies).

Oh! Christmas Tree

In these hills, evergreens such as pine, spruce and fir make lovely Christmas trees. Whether we visit one of the region’s picturesque “cut your own” tree farms, or pick our favorite from an array offered by an area non-profit, the holiday tree is often up by Thanksgiving. If swallowed, the needles can obstruct airways or cause aspiration. In the stomach, gastrointestinal upset can occur. So, watch for nibblers.

Poinsettia Plants

Many of us were told that poinsettias were poisonous. Today, this belief has been shown to be false. In fact, experts suggest this “Christmas flower” is safe to have in one’s home during the holidays. However, if more than a leaf or two are swallowed, poinsettia might cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Those with sensitive skin might also experience contact dermatitis if they come in contact with the flower’s sap. So, it’s not the bad guy it was suggested to be years gone by, but you still want to be aware.

However, Holly Is Not Jolly

Outdoors, the deep green spiky leaves and bright red flowers are attractive to birds. But to children and pets, holly is quite poisonous. It should be kept well out of reach indoors. Plus, be sure to regularly scan for dried berries that fall to the floor or onto surfaces. Ingestion of 20 berries can cause serious health problems and even death to a child.

No, No, Not Mistletoe

The custom of hanging mistletoe over the doorway to steal a kiss from one’s sweetheart continues in Appalachia today. The waxy leaves, milky berries and stem are all poisonous. But, you want to keep all parts of the plant out of reach. Again, like holly, be vigilant and watch for berries that may fall to the floor or land on surfaces. If any amount at all is ingested, contact poison control.

English Ivy

A pretty green clinging vine with bluish berries, English ivy looks especially lovely when paired with its traditional companion, holly. Nonetheless, English ivy is toxic to both people and pets. The plant is known to cause skin inflammation with blisters. If a quantity of it is swallowed, symptoms include difficulty breathing and significant digestive issues. It can also affect the nervous system, causing hallucinations, delirium, or seizures.

So, don’t scrap your plans of bringing these colorful, traditional holiday plants into your home. Just be aware a bad experience with any one of these common holiday plants could put a damper on the spirit of the season.