Using Backyard Plants as Holiday Decorations
Written by Outside Landscape Group
Before you make an arrangement with branches and holiday plants, make sure they are not potentially harmful to pets or people.
During the holidays, using plants and trees from our backyards in our holiday décor can be fun, easy, and cost-effective. We thought it would be a good time to look at some popular plants, bushes, and trees that should be used with caution.
Holly Bushes
Holly branches, with their shiny dark green leaves and red berries, are often included in homemade holiday arrangements.
It’s true, we love hollies and have written several articles where we list the holly bush as being one of our favorite choices for reliable Southern foliage. However, if you use branches with berries as decoration, please do so cautiously.
Although generally not deadly, holly berries can be toxic to pets and people. For both, consuming the berries may cause gastrointestinal issues. If you suspect holly berries have been eaten, contact your doctor or vet to discuss. When calling, try to figure out how much was consumed. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia warns “Eating more than three holly berries can cause severe and prolonged nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as drowsiness.” (link)
Other trees/bushes that grow in our yards which should be used with caution – or not at all – include:
Yews
Cedar
Juniper
The following are a few “holiday” indoor plants that should be displayed in safe locations – especially when you have pets and young children in your home:
Christmas Cactus
Amaryllis
Mistletoe
Poinsettias
To learn more about these, or any other plants you may have in your house, please visit one of these sites: National Capital Poison Center, Texas A&M Horticulture, or one of the many other sites you can find by searching for information about a specific plant.