Hands In The Dirt: Poinsettia

Photo and article by Donna Iverson 

When it comes to holiday plants, poinsettia is Number 1. It is the best selling potted plant sold in this country. Over 70 million poinsettia plants are purchased this time of the year with most of them commercially grown in California.

Poinsettia is native to the Americas, specifically southern Mexico and Guatemala. There it grows wild as a perennial shrub or small tree, reaching two to thirteen feet in height.

Like many plants and animals, the wild poinsettia is losing its habitat as the forest land that it prefers is eroding.  Soon only cultivated varieties will be available, of which there are 100 varieties and counting. The plant is named after botanist Joel Poinsett, who was the first US ambassador to Mexico.  He introduced the plant in South Carolina when he sent cuttings in 1824.  

Two hundred years later, poinsettias are available everywhere, including garden centers, farmers markets and in grocery stores. 

As for caring for poinsettias, they need about six hours of bright indirect light and to be kept away from drafts. If these needs are met, poinsettia plants will last until Valentine's Day. The brighter the light, the more intense the floral coloring. When purchasing a poinsettia, be sure there is a hole in the bottom of the pot, as it needs good drainage,

Newer varieties also come in a variety of flower colors in addition to the traditional red.  These include white, purple, salmon and variegated. As a side note, the bright flowers are actually bracts, or modified leaves.

Poinsettias are not toxic to people or animals although eating too many leaves can cause nausea and vomiting.  Also the stems ooze a milky sap which can cause skin irritation in some people.

If you haven’t purchased a poinsettia plant yet, you might want to do so soon. Then you can celebrate Poinsettia Day on December 12..a holiday declared in 1851.

For more information on the care and feeding of poinsettias, check out https://gardenerspath.com/plants/houseplants/poinsettia-after-holidays/

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