Plant Taxonomy of Christmas Poinsettias:
Plant taxonomy classifies Christmas poinsettias as Euphorbia pulcherrima, literally, "the most beautiful Euphorbia" (Euphorbia is not only a genus name, but also the name of a large plant family).
If Euphorbia pulcherrima is the scientific name for these plants, one may well ask how their common name (which looks like it should be a scientific name!) is derived. Well, the common name derives from the fact that Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, introduced the first Christmas poinsettias to North America (1828).
Plant Type for Christmas Poinsettias: Christmas poinsettias are sub-tropical plants, native to Mexico. There, they are flowering shrubs, growing up to 10 feet in height. Since Christmas poinsettias are not tolerant of the cold, in the North they are grown almost exclusively indoors. They are raised in greenhouses (it's big business), to be sold as potted plants for the holidays. Enormously popular holiday gifts, Christmas poinsettias are treated by their recipients as houseplants.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones for Christmas Poinsettias: Christmas poinsettias can be grown as
perennials in
zone 10 and higher (e.g., south Florida).
Characteristics of Christmas Poinsettias: When mention is made of Christmas poinsettias, most people think of the color, red. But Christmas poinsettias also come in white, yellow, pink and in color combinations. The "marbled" type is one of the most fascinating. Available from florists in a variety of sizes, an average height for potted Christmas poinsettias is perhaps about 2 feet (not counting the container).
Sun and Soil Requirements for Christmas Poinsettias: If you want to treat Christmas poinsettias as annuals, you can grow them outside for a bit of extra greenery. But frankly, they aren't anything special without their artificially-induced "Christmas" colors (see below). You can move them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Grow them in well-drained soil and in a sunny spot that receives a fair amount of shade in the afternoon. Water needs: moderate to high.
Getting Christmas Poinsettias to Bloom the Next Year: Christmas poinsettias "are short-day plants, meaning their bud set is affected by the length of daylight. To re-bloom, poinsettias need about 10 weeks with 12 hours or less of sunlight per day. You will have to artificially create these conditions and it's crucial that you be diligent," says Marie Iannotti. In other words: getting them to re-bloom is a real pain -- something best left to greenhouse operators.
The "Flowers" of Christmas Poinsettias: When laymen speak of the "flowers" of Christmas poinsettias, what they're actually referring to are petal-like leaves known as "bracts." Christmas poinsettias do have flowers, but these green and yellow flowers are small -- and certainly not the feature for which one buys Christmas poinsettias! The colorful bracts form around (and just below) these inconsequential flowers.
Are Christmas Poinsettias Poisonous?: Despite the well-known myth that they are toxic, Christmas poinsettias are not poisonous (of course, one should not eat them, either!). However, the milky sap that oozes from their branches can result in contact dermatitis in some people. So unless you like to itch, avoid the sap, in case you're one of those prone to develop this rash. At the very least, be sure not to touch your eyes after touching the sap.
Spelling and Pronunciation of Christmas Poinsettias:
We can thank the derivation of the plant's name from Ambassador "Poinsett" for the numerous misspellings that abound, such as "pointsetters," "poinsetters," "pointsettas," "poinsettas," "pointsettias," "poinsetas," "pointsetas," "poinsetias," "pointsetias," etc. Why couldn't this guy have been named, "Smith!"?
Dictionaries list poin-SET-e-uh and poin-SET-uh as acceptable pronunciations. However, both folks in the greenhouse industry and their customers regularly insert a "T" after the "N," so that the word most often ends up being pronounced, point-SET-uh.
Christmas Poinsettia Legend:
The Christmas poinsettia legend begins long ago with a peasant girl in Mexico, faced with a problem on Holy Night: she lacked the means to contribute a gift in the Christ Child ceremony at the church, as all the other children would be doing. The girl was, however, reassured that, to use a modern expression, "it's the thought that counts."
Taking this advice, she picked some roadside weeds on the way to church to make a bouquet. But when she arrived at the church and it was time for her to present her gift, the bouquet of weeds was transformed into something much more colorful: red Christmas poinsettias! Thus was born an enduring tradition, as we continue to associate Christmas poinsettias with the holiday season.
