where do poinsettias come from

[19] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. Genetic analyses showed that the wild populations in northern Guerrero are the likely ancestors of most cultivated poinsettias. Certainly it serves an anti-herbivore purpose in the wild, however, as long as you're not a tiny insect or a gluttonous deer, you have nothing to worry about from this species at least. If you look after your poinsettia properly, you should be able to keep it growing until next Christmas. [13], Aztec people use the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. [13] All flowers in the Euphorbiaceae are unisexual (either male or female only), and they are often very small in size. Specific details about its spread from there are largely unverifiable, but it was exhibited at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1829 by Colonel Robert Carr. Poinsettia plants remain one of the most popular holiday plants, synonymous with Christmas decor and festive cheer. They were cultivated by the Aztecs for use in traditional medicine. They produced a fuller, more compact plant by grafting two varieties of poinsettia together. If you follow their natural daylight cycle, you may just coax some color out of them for many winters to come. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). Poinsettia is the common name given to a species of shrub known scientifically as Euphorbia pulcherrima. Bacterial diseases include bacterial soft rot and bacterial canker, while a viral disease is Poinsettia mosaic virus. ex Klotzsch. In 92.4% of calls, there was no effect from exposure, and in 3.4% of calls there were minor effects, defined as "minimally bothersome". Exposure to the plant, even consumption, most often results in no effect,[4] though it can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.[3]. How to Revive a Dying Poinsettia. [10] Nothing is known about pollination in wild poinsettias, though wasps are noted to occasionally visit the cyathia. They were the first to begin using Poinsettias at the holidays during their Nativity ceremonies. Because of their beauty, E. pulcherrima is one of the most widely cultivated plants in human history. A conservation risk typical for species with wild and cultivated populations is the contamination of the wild gene pool by hybridization with cultivated individuals. However, don’t expect it to come back with the same beauty and color that it did the previous year, as that is nearly impossible to do, even with the most precise care and commitment. Which is odd, considering they used poinsettia latex as a hair removal cream. They are also found in the interior of Mexico in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Gurerro and Oxaca. DON’T Let Your Poinsettia Stand in Water. What we think of as large, showy, red and white flower petals are not petals at all. The poinsettia is from the deserts of Mexico. [20] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice of Jesus's crucifixion. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. The Aztecs found this plant blooming in winter, and they named it cuetlaxochitl. 2. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. Whereas most plants hailing from Euphorbiacea or spurge family contain toxic sap, the sap of E. pulcherrima is very mild in its toxicity and an absurd amount of plant material would have to be consumed to suffer any serious side effects. The Ecke family's business, now led by Paul Ecke III, decided to stop producing plants in the US, but as of 2008, they still served about 70 percent of the domestic market and 50 percent of the worldwide market. Though Arnold later admitted that the story was hearsay and that poinsettias were not proven to be poisonous, the plant was thus thought deadly. Color is initiated by exposing the plants to complete darkness for 12 hours a day, starting in October. White, orange, pink and speckled blends are just some of the Poinsettias grown. Why are poinsettias associated with Christmas? The holotype had been collected in Mexico during an 1803–1804 expedition by Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland. [23] In the US, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, marking the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett's death. They are often disposed of once they start to fade, but with a little care, you can keep them all year and the bracts will colour up again the following year. As of 2012, wild poinsettias are not protected by Mexican law. [23], Besides changing the market from mature plants shipped by rail to cuttings sent by air, he sent free plants to television stations for them to display on air from Thanksgiving to Christmas. They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays, but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year. They are actually leafy bracts. [17], The poinsettia occurs in Central America, occurring from Mexico to southern Guatemala. They used the plant to extract a purple dye, which was then used for coloring textiles and imparting color to cosmetics. You should get into habit of inspecting its leaves. In fact, the whole function of these bracts is to save energy on flower production by coloring up leaves that are already in place. Poinsettias are one of the most popular plants to gift to loved ones come Christmas time. Poinsettias do best in full fall sun and the bracts (colored leaves below the flowers) obtain their deepest color in good light. Poinsettias flood the market during the winter holidays, claiming the title of best-selling potted flowering plant. During cold weather, keep it in a cool room with indirect sunlight. They will lose leaves if they are exposed to temperatures below 50° or above 80°. [10] In Chile and Peru, the plant became known as Crown of the Andes. Ambassador to Mexico, Doctor Joel Poinsett, sent a clipping of the plant back to home in South Carolina. It has been hypothesized that the inaccessibility of the canyons may protect the wild populations from human disturbance. The quintessential floral symbol of Christmas across North America, the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a tropical shrub native to Mexico, where it is known as the flor de Nochebuena. Size of the plant – A larger Poinsettia needs more water than the smaller ones. A common myth that has existed for generations is that a poinsettia's leaves are poisonous. Populations were once found in rolling hill areas, though many have gone extinct. [30], Albert Ecke emigrated from Germany to Los Angeles in 1900, opening a dairy and orchard in the Eagle Rock area. He became intrigued by the plant and sold them from street stands. Their bright colors chase winter’s gloom from the dark corners of the home and their ease of care make these plants perfect for interior gardening. If they're turning yellow or falling off, you're … Poinsettias are native to Mexico. In 1970 the US Food and Drug Administration published a newsletter stating erroneously that "one poinsettia leaf can kill a child", and in 1980 they were prohibited from nursing homes in a county in North Carolina due to this supposed toxicity. In captivity, this change is mimicked by plunging plants into complete darkness for a minimum of 12 hours per day. Population sizes are frequently very small, with as few as a dozen individuals. There is a somewhat anomalous population of wild poinsettias in the northern part of the Mexican state of Guerrero and Oaxaca, which is much further inland in the hot and seasonally dry forests than the rest of the species' range. If ingested, mild drooling or vomiting can occur, or rarely, diarrhea. He also appeared on television programs like The Tonight Show and Bob Hope's Christmas specials to promote the plants. These plants produce brightly colored bracts -- modified leaves -- that turn red, pink or white during the holiday season. Those bracts also caught the attention of horticulturists. A poinsettia left to grow on its own will naturally take an open, somewhat weedy look. If you really want to keep your poinsettia around for another year and insist on keeping it indoors, there is a way to bring it back after it goes through dormancy. The name "poinsettia" is seemingly synonymous with the holiday season. Skin exposure to the sap may cause itchiness, redness, or swelling. As many a poinsettia owner has come to realize, the bracts do not stay colored up all year. Plants die back to the ground and come back from the roots in the spring if these don't freeze. They're beautiful, festive, and easy to take care of. [7], The poinsettia is the world's most economically important potted plant. Native Mexicans deemed the poinsettia’s brilliant color a symbol of purity. During warm weather, you can keep your poinsettia outdoors in the shade, but you’ll need to bring it inside for the fall and winter. Poinsettia is the common name given to a species of shrub known scientifically as Euphorbia pulcherrima . Many of these poinsettias are grown by the Ecke family business, which serves half the worldwide market and 70% of the US market. [8] Cultivation in the US began when diplomat Joel Roberts Poinsett sent some of the plants back to his greenhouses in South Carolina in the 1820s. Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, discovered it in the wilderness of southern Mexico and brought cuttings of … Condsider keeping these wonderful plants in your home for another year. Though poinsettia may look like flowers, they're … Step 2 : Answer to the question "What country does the poinsettia come from? It was introduced to the States by US Ambassador Joel Robert Poinsett after he discovered them growing wild in parts of Mexico in 1825. [21], Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations[22] in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America, as a result of an extensive marketing campaign by the Ecke family that began by shipping free poinsettias to television stations for use on-air. At the same time, changes within the leafy bracts cause them to start producing pigments. Keep reading to learn about collecting poinsettia seed and … Poinsettias are shrubs or small trees, with heights of 0.6–4 m (2.0–13.1 ft). As the northern hemisphere begins to tilt away from the sun, days grow shorter. [18] Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. As a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) poinsettias have a milky sap. Location of the pot – A plant sitting in bright areas usually dry fast. Poinsettias are absolutely everywhere during the holidays, and for good reason! These colorful plants first appeared in the U.S. in the 19th century, when the first U.S. In 1828, the U.S. [9] Prior to poinsettia, it was known as "Mexican flame flower" or "painted leaf". Festive in their holiday colors, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are favorite houseplants, especially during fall and winter months. The red leafy plant blooms in December and has a rich history with the holiday season. Poinsettias are plants just like any other, though, and they can be grown from seed. No one quite knows the exact origin of our cultivated house guests but the species itself is native to the mountains of the Pacific slope of Mexico. They are found in the wild in deciduous tropical forest at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. Wild poinsettias occur from Mexico to southern Guatemala, growing on mid-elevation, Pacific-facing slopes. Back to Top. [28][10][11], To produce extra axillary buds that are necessary for plants containing multiple flowers, a phytoplasma infection—whose symptoms include the proliferation of axillary buds—is used. The colored bracts—which are normally flaming red, with cultivars being orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled—are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves. [33], Species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, American Association of Poison Control Centers, "Beschreibung zweier neuen Euphorbien aus Mexico", "The Poinsettia: History and Transformation", "Poinsettia's wild ancestor in the Mexican dry tropics: Historical, genetic, and environmental evidence", "The Legends and Traditions of Holiday Plants | Horticulture and Home Pest News", "The Legends and Traditions of Holiday Plants", "The poinsettia: Jesus' life story in a plant", "The bloom is off the poinsettia business", "How America's Most Popular Potted Plant Captured Christmas", "First Report of Wilt and Stem Canker of Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae in Puerto Rico", "Poinsettias: Helping an Icon to Bloom at the Right Time", "How Poinsettias Became Synonymous With Christmas", Plant Pathology Fact Sheet: Poinsettia Diseases, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poinsettia&oldid=1001488713, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 January 2021, at 22:33. Populations can be up to several hundred individuals, but this is not typical. Since then, many different varieties have been … However, take a hand lens to them and you will reveal rather intriguing little structures. Both red- and white-colored bracts have been found in the wild. [26] In Puerto Rico, where poinsettias are grown extensively in greenhouses, the industry is valued at $5 million annually. [12], The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and do not attract pollinators. Fungal diseases affecting greenhouse poinsettia operations include Pythium root rot, Rhizoctonia root and stem rot, black root rot, scab, powdery mildew, and Botrytis blight.
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