Beware the Holidays' Toxic Plants!

During Yuletide - or Christmas and New Year's - most people decorate their homes with ribbons and bows, ornaments and plants, and the Christmas tree.  We love to see bright colors; particularly reds and greens. As good parents, grandparents, and pet owners, however, we need to do some double-checking of our decorating.

These warnings apply to small children, cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits.  
Also remember that the smaller the imbiber, or eater, the faster these toxins work into, and through, their biological systems.
 1. We all know that small ornaments can and will be either eaten, sucked on, or licked.  Glass ornaments and ornaments with small pieces need to be hung out of a small child's reach.  Metallic tinsel can be deadly if a pet eats it.  If you have small children or pets that will either bump into your tree and knock items off, or if you have a tree-climbing cat (like me), you know that breakable and small ornaments are not allowed.
 2.  The Christmas tree itself - if you have a live tree, then the tree, in and of itself, is mildly toxic. Evergreens, pines, and firs produce produce an oil that irritates the mouth and stomach, and can cause drooling and vomiting.  If you have a tree with extremely stiff needles, the main concern is with them perforating the stomach wall or intestinal lining.  The infections caused by the perforations are usually deadly.
 3.  Poinsettias have been getting a bad reputation since 1919.  Yes, the sap in the leaves and stalks is mildly toxic and can cause skin irritation - but an adult person would need to eat an entire, large, bushy poinsettia plant in its entirety to die from it.  Because it is so pretty, a lot of children want to taste it - I remember believing that it must taste like peppermint, as a child.  Unless you have a specific allergy to poinsettias, ingesting them will make you sick (and maybe wish you were dead), but they won't kill you.  But just think how it would make a child or pet feel...
 4.  Mistletoe:  all parts of this plant are severely toxic to any animal, two or four-legged.
 5.  Holly:  all parts of this plant are severely toxic to any animal, two or four-legged.
 6.  Yew:  all parts of this plant are severely toxic to any animal, two or four-legged.
 7. Lilies, amaryllis, narcissus, cyclamen and daffodils:  the bulbs and leaves are severely toxic to children, cats, dogs, and other household pets.  All parts, including the flowers, of the cyclamen are poisonous to children and pets.  All of these beautiful bulbs are seen in "forced" growing for the holiday season.  They are pretty, but deadly.
 8.  The Jerusalem cherry is extremely appealing - it has bright green leaves, and a red fruit that looks (and tastes) like a cherry tomato.  It is a member of the nightshade family.  It is severely toxic.
 9. In flower arrangements from the store, the Jequirity bean (aka the Indian prayer bean and/or the Rosary pea) is big during the holiday season.  In appearance, it is a dried bean of scarlet hue, with black tips.  It's very pretty - which can lead to problems with children.  The bean is also severely toxic.

The Holidays should be a time of joyfulness and cheer - please make sure that your home is a safe place for all small children and for all household pets.    Enjoy!