With their bright red and green leaves, poinsettias are a symbol of the holiday season. These beautiful plants make homes, businesses, and public places look better and add a holiday touch that makes you think of Christmas. Many people like how pretty poinsettias are, but not many know their interesting past or what makes them special. Here are five interesting facts about poinsettias that will help you love them even more this holiday season.
1. Poinsettias Are Native to Mexico
The scientific name for poinsettias is Euphorbia pulcherrima, and they come from the tropical jungles of Mexico. The Aztecs used them before they became a big part of Christmas.
- Aztec Uses: The plant was known as “Cuetlaxochitl” to the Aztecs, who used the red flowers to make dye for clothes and beauty products. The milky white sap, also known as rubber, was also used as medicine to treat fevers.
- Cultural Significance: Poinsettias are still a big part of Mexican culture. They are called “Flores de Noche Buena,” which means “Flowers of the Holy Night” and refers to Christmas Eve.
2. The Legend of the Poinsettia
A cute Mexican story tells how the poinsettia came to be linked with Christmas.
- The Story: The story is about a poor girl named Pepita who didn’t have any gifts to give the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. Her cousin told her to give a simple gift, so she picked some leaves off the side of the road. The weeds turned into beautiful red flowers when she put them near the nativity scene. They were called “Flores de Noche Buena.”
- Symbolism: This story shows that the most valuable gifts are the ones that are given with love and aren’t flashy.
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3. Joel Poinsett and the Plant’s Introduction to the United States
The plant is named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. minister to Mexico and was very important in bringing it to the U.S.
- Discovery: Poinsett found the bright red plants growing wild in the Mexican farmland in 1828. He was so moved by their beauty that he sent cuttings back to his garden in South Carolina, where he grows plants all the time.
- Propagation: Poinsett propagated the plants and began sharing them with botanical gardens and horticulturists. By the mid-19th century, poinsettias had become popular in the United States, particularly as Christmas decorations.
4. The Misunderstood “Flowers”
What most people think of as the poinsettia’s flowers are actually not flowers at all.
- Bracts: The bright red, pink, white, or multicolored “petals” are actually bracts, which are modified leaves. There are small, yellow structures in the middle of each group of bracts that are the poinsettia’s real flowers. These are called cyathia.
- Purpose: Pollinators are drawn to the less noticeable flowers by the bright bracts, which ensures the plant’s reproduction.
5. Poinsettias and Holiday Sales
During the Christmas season, poinsettias are the most popular potted plant in the United States.
- Commercial Success: Over 70 million poinsettias are sold in the U.S. alone every year, which makes a big difference in the horticulture business. The plant is most popular in the six weeks before Christmas, when it makes up almost a quarter of all yearly sales of potted plants.
- Variety: Red is still the most famous color for poinsettias, but they also come in white, pink, peach, marbled, and speckled varieties to suit different tastes.
Conclusion
Poinsettias are more than just a pretty holiday decoration; they have a long past, are culturally important, and have interesting botanical traits. Poinsettias have a story that makes them more beautiful and charming. They come from the wild in Mexico and are now a holiday symbol. These five interesting facts about these classic Christmas plants will make you love them even more, whether you’re putting them on show in your home or giving them as gifts.