Pretty poinsettias are common this time of year, but many people believe that if you have a pet – particularly dogs or cats – you may need to be cautious bringing the plant into your home.
Not to worry. This myth is just that – a myth. Research done at Ohio State University and confirmed by a resident veterinarian, says that the white sap can be mildly irritating, but the poinsettia is not poisonous.
We certainly don’t recommend feeding poinsettias to your pet, but they’re not as dangerous as commonly thought.
I can testify that the plant is non-poisonous. I had a cat that attacked my poinsettia, tearing off branches and chewing the leaves. Both cat and poinsettia stems survived just fine; I stuck the stems back into the soil, kept them watered, and had new plants growing quickly.