Poinsettia Trivia

poinsettias quickly add color to any room. some of mine retain their color for months. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Poinsettia Trivia; Christmas Connection

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are iconic plants associated with the holiday season, especially Christmas. I remember having them in our Mexico City garden. I was a lot smaller back then; the plants grew as trees, not the small plants we see today. Just in time for your holiday dinner, here are some interesting facts about these lovely tropical plants and how they connect to Christmas.

1. Origin in Mexico

Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they are known as Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). They grow wild in the tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico and Central America, typically in mountainous areas. They are considered tropical plants and don't handle temperatures below 50F.

2. Named After Dr. Joel Poinsett

The plant was named after Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. In 1828, Poinsett first came across the plant during a trip to Mexico. He was so taken with its beauty that he sent some back to his home in South Carolina. He also cultivated the plant in his greenhouse.

3. Poinsett's Influence

In 1851, in honor of Dr. Poinsett’s contribution, U.S. Congress declared December 12 as National Poinsettia Day, the anniversary of his death. This day celebrates his introduction of the plant to the U.S.

5. The Legend of the Poinsettia

In Mexican culture, the poinsettia is closely associated with Christmas, especially as part of the tradition of Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. The red leaves are said to represent the blood of Christ.

A popular Mexican legend explains the origin of the poinsettia as a humble gift from a poor girl named Pepita. On Christmas Eve, she had no money to buy a gift for the baby Jesus, so she gathered weeds from the roadside. When she placed them at the altar, they miraculously transformed into vibrant red poinsettias.

According to tradition, the plant's red bracts represent the Star of Bethlehem, while its vibrant color reflects the joy and warmth of the Christmas season.

6. Expansion in the U.S.

After Dr. Poinsett introduced the plant to the U.S., cultivation of poinsettias spread across the country. By the early 20th century, their popularity grew, especially with advancements in cultivation techniques that allowed for mass production.

7. Poinsettias and US Christmas Traditions

In the U.S., poinsettias became associated with Christmas after their introduction in the 19th century. Their vivid colors, relatively easy care and abundance during the winter months made them ideal for holiday displays and decorations.

8. Botanical Characteristics

Though often mistaken for flowers, the colorful "petals" of the poinsettia are actually modified leaves called bracts. The true flowers are small and yellow, clustered in the center of the bracts.

Although red is the most popular color, poinsettias also come in shades of white, pink, peach, purple, and marbled variations. There are now more than 100 hybrids with different colors and patterns.

9. Not Poisonous to Pets

Though a common myth suggests that poinsettias are highly toxic to pets, they are only mildly toxic. If ingested, they can cause mild stomach upset or irritation to the mouth, but are not usually fatal

10. Symbolism

Poinsettias symbolize purity and hope in many cultures. 

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Charlotte

December Gift Flower: Poinsettia

Poinsettia or narcissus are December's gift flower. Where I live, only poinsettia are easily found.

December Gift Flower: Poinsettia

At least in mid-Missouri, the only Narcissus anyone is going to find is either at a florist or forced to grow inside. It's winter, and most daffodils, and narcissus, bloom outside here in spring. So although some gift guides list narcissus as the December gift flower, the alternate is poinsettia, a much easier plant to find in the middle of a midwest winter.

The red colors on these popular Christmas plants for holiday decor are actually leaves that have been deprived of light and turned from green to red. These days you can also get poinsettias in white, pink and marble colors, products of a hybridizer playing with the teeny tiny center flowers.

Pink leaves tinged with white circle the tiny poinsettia flowers in the center.

Originally from Mexico

The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who lived from 1779 to 1851. The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico 1825-1829 by President James Madison. Poinsett had attended medical school himself, but his real love was botany.

Poinsett maintained his own hothouses on his Greenville, South Carolina plantations, and while visiting the Taxco area of Mexico in 1828, became enchanted by the brilliant red blooms he saw there. He immediately sent some of the plants back to South Carolina, where he began propagating the plants and sending them to friends and botanical gardens.

Among the recipients of Poinsett's work was John Bartram of Philadelphia, who in turn gave the plant over to another friend, Robert Buist, a Pennsylvania nurseryman. Mr. Buist is thought to be the first person to have sold the plant under its botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima. It is thought to have become known by its more popular name of poinsettia around 1836, the origin of the name recognizing the man who first brought the plant to the United States.

Poinsettias today are available in several colors including white as well as red and pink tones.

Take Extra Care When Buying and Taking Home

In Mexico City, where I lived early in life, I remember poinsettia trees in our backyard so they can grow quite large in the right tropical conditions. In other words, when you pick one up at the grocery store to take home, make sure to wrap it up in brown paper...no wait, better yet, take a blanket in with you and wrap the plant in the blanket to prevent it from getting exposed to the elements. I'm quite serious. Too many people have passed on half-dying poinsettias to me just because they were exposed to cold for a few minutes.

With a little care, diffused sunlight, and not too much water, these lovely plants can give you their red, pink and white leaves for many more holidays, and birthdays, to come.

Charlotte