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Euphorbiaceae
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Christmas, celebration, good cheer, success.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Genus
- Euphorbia
- Native to
- Mexico, Central America
- Bloom season
- Winter (Christmas)
- Type
- deciduous shrub
- Height
- 0.6–4 m
- Sunlight
- Bright indirect light
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic
- Water
- Moderate; allow to dry slightly
- Hardiness
- 9–11
- Lifespan
- Perennial
Did you know
- The colorful 'flowers' of poinsettia are actually leaves called bracts — the true flowers are the small yellow structures (cyathia) in the center.
- Aztecs called the plant 'cuetlaxochitl' and used it for red dye and to treat fevers; Montezuma is said to have had poinsettias brought to his palace by caravan.
- Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, brought the plant to South Carolina in 1828 — and the flower was later named after him.
- Despite persistent myths, poinsettias are not seriously toxic to humans or pets — the worst symptom from ingestion is usually mild stomach upset.
- Poinsettias are short-day plants — they only develop their colored bracts in response to long uninterrupted nights of 12+ hours.