Poinsettia: A Christmas Tradition

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Poinsettia is a beautiful plant that shows up only around Christmas. So why do we have this tradition of a transformational plant where the leaves resemble flowers, and the colour brings us back many memories of holidays past?

First of all, the origin of the name “Poinsettia” comes from the original importer of the plant from its native Mexico to the USA – John Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett first “discovered” the Poinsettia when he was the appointed first US Ambassador to Mexico in the 1820’s.  In 1828 he visited the Taxco del Alcaron region of Mexico and brought back some of the unique plants to grow in his greenhouses in South Carolina.  He began sending them to different friends with an interest in plants, and they became commonly sold as cut flowers.

It was only in the early 1900s that the whole plants began to be sold in California, by the same producers that still hold a large market share in the flowers.  In 1833, it was given a botanical name of “Euphorbia pulcherrima” which translates to “very beautiful plant”.  Its common name of course comes from Poinsett.  The aztecs called it “Cuetlaxochitl” and used it for everything from medicine to dying fabric.  The poinsettia also produces latex from its sap, and even today in Mexico it is called “Flor de Noche Buena” which means “flower of Christmas Eve”.

From its “discovery” by westerners to its cultivation around the world, the Poinsettia has a rich history and was even cultivated in Egypt starting in the 1860s, where it is known as “bent el consul” or “general’s daughter” refering to the plant as the child of Joel Poinsett.  Although widely believed to be very poisonous, Poinsettia is actually only mildly dangerous if taken internally – a child would have to eat 500 leaves to build up toxins in their system.  However, should you get the sap, which is actually latex, in your eye, you may be temporarily blinded.  So be careful when you trim these Christmas beauties.

Do you have Poinsettias in your house at Christmas?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.