Look around you and you know it is Christmas! This year Poinsettia arrived early in bright red in various sizes evoking the spirit of Christmas.
Euphorbia pulcherrima commonly called Poinsettia or Flower of the Holy Night originated from Mexico and has a rich history dating back to the 14th Century.
Poinsettia was grown in Mexico by the Aztecs as a shrub as well as being used to dye fabrics and control fever for many centuries.
It was later introduced to the United States in the eighteenth century by Joel Poinsett, an American Ambassador to Mexico who was a remarkable amateur botanist. After exporting it to the US the plant was named after him. December 12 is National Poinsettia Day in the US.
Poinsettia is grown all over the world for the Christmas market as hybrid potted plants, with the USA and Holland being the largest growers and exporters.
Poinsettia have velvety green leaves that are toothed. The actual flowers are inconspicuous being small and berry like. They are clustered together like beads and are surrounded by leaf-like bracts. It is these bracts which become bright red as the flower matures and which give the plant its fame.
The colour of the poinsettia bracts will last for approximately 3 months, given normal room temperature and good light. To care for your Poinsettia water the soil only and allow to dry out before watering again. (To be continued)
Until next week, Happy Gardening.
