| A Nineteenth Century American Immigrant | | | | plantings, the vast majority of which |
| | | | originate from the Paul Ecke Ranch in |
| Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they | | | | California. |
| grow wild, and were first introduced to the | | | | |
| United States in 1825 by Joel Robert | | | | Are Poinsettias Poisonous? |
| Poinsett, amateur botanist and first | | | | |
| ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett brought some | | | | Some mistakenly believe poinsettias are |
| cuttings to his plantation in Greenwood, | | | | poisonous. But, researchers at Ohio State |
| South Carolina. The rest is history. Today, | | | | University have proved the poinsettia to be |
| National Poinsettia Day, Dec. 12, | | | | non-toxic to both humans and pets. In fact, |
| commemorates Poinsett and the plant he made | | | | out of 22,793 reported poinsettia exposures |
| famous on the anniversary of his death in | | | | studied by Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh |
| 1851. | | | | and Carnegie Mellon University, there was no |
| | | | toxicity significance found. Even pet lovers |
| A Charming Holiday Legend | | | | need not ban the poinsettia from their homes. |
| | | | Keeping the plant out of reach of pets is a |
| The legend of the poinsettia dates back to a | | | | good idea, however, to avoid stomach upset |
| Christmas Eve centuries ago, when a little | | | | from the fibrous tissues, especially among |
| girl named Pepita had no gift to present to | | | | feline friends. Like most decorative |
| the Christ child. On her way to the church | | | | blooming plants, the poinsettia is not meant |
| she gathered up weeds along the road. Then, | | | | to be eaten and can certainly cause |
| a miracle unfolded. As she approached the | | | | discomfort if ingested. |
| alter, the weeds bloomed into vibrant flowers | | | | |
| -- Flores de Noche Buena or Flowers of the | | | | Selecting the Perfect Poinsettia Plant |
| Holy Night. | | | | |
| | | | Poinsettias range in price from under $10 to |
| The Aztecs called the poinsettia | | | | over $100, based on size, variety, shape, |
| Cuetlaxochitl. They made a reddish purple dye | | | | quality, and decorative trim. When selecting |
| from the bracts. In Chile and Peru, the | | | | poinsettias, look for plants with thoroughly |
| poinsettia is known as the Crown of the | | | | colored and expanded bracts, plentiful green |
| Andes. Poinsettias have also been referred | | | | foliage, strong stems, and no signs of |
| to as the Flame Leaf Flower. In nature, | | | | wilting. Care and handling is easy. |
| they're a perennial flowering shrub that can | | | | Poinsettias like indirect sunlight, room |
| grow up to ten feet in height. | | | | temperatures, and light to moderate soil |
| | | | moisture. Over watering and excessive |
| Poinsettias Today | | | | temperatures are the most common causes of |
| | | | any problems. Simply avoid cold drafts, |
| Today, poinsettias range in color from white | | | | excessive heat, or soggy soil. |
| to pink to traditional red, with shades of | | | | |
| peach and yellow in between, with more than | | | | With a little care, poinsettias last through |
| 100 varieties available. Newer varieties | | | | Christmas and beyond, making them a terrific |
| boast marbled, flecked, and even wrinkled | | | | value, as well as a popular gift and favorite |
| bracts (the colored portion of the plant). | | | | holiday decoration. |
| They're grown in all fifty states, from tiny | | | | |