When we think about “decking the halls” for the holiday
season, most of us envision boughs of holly, evergreen wreaths and fragrant
firs or pine. But in addition to traditional greenery, one plant has become a
Christmas icon -- the poinsettia. With more than 65 million sold each year,
this colorful plant has moved from the desert into three-quarters of American
homes to become a holiday superstar.
The poinsettia is a Euphorbia, a succulent from the arid
regions of North and Central America. It was named after Joel R. Poinsett, a
Charleston native who was appointed ambassador to Mexico in 1825. Poinsett was
a keen gardener who was captivated by the plant’s vivid color. The bright
scarlet objects many thought to be “flowers” were not flowers at all, but
petal-like leaves called bracts. The actual flowers are those little yellow
dots at the center of the bracts.
Because the yellow flowers and attractive bracts emerge
during the holiday season, the poinsettia has been a part of Christian
celebrations for hundreds of years. In the 17th century, Franciscan priests in
Mexico carried poinsettias in nativity processions. The Aztecs were said to
have prized the plant for its color and medicinal properties.
Although poinsettias were well known in Mexico and Central
America, it was a family of German immigrants who spied the plants in the
desert and created the Christmas favorite we know today.
In the early 1900’s, Albert Ecke and his family left Germany
to establish a farm in California. One day his son Paul noticed an unusual
plant growing in the wild and decided to develop it as a cut flower. Before
long, the family’s fields of poinsettias in Hollywood became a huge attraction.
In the 1920’s an amateur hybridizer in New Jersey bred a
poinsettia called Oak Leaf, which was the first to resemble modern varieties.
The Eckes family further developed the plant, then devised a system to
distribute cuttings to nurseries throughout the country. Today, the Paul Ecke
Ranch holds the patents on most popular varieties and is the largest supplier
of poinsettias in the world.
Of course, the traditional red poinsettia remains the top
holiday choice, but interest in white, cream, pink and mottled varieties is on
the increase. In fact, the popularity of the red poinsettia has been steadily
falling over the past decade thanks to the introduction of new and more colorful
varieties each year. (However, I must say the blue ones creep me out.)
In addition to new colors, we can thank breeders for giving
us plants that are longer lasting and more vigorous. Today’s poinsettias aren’t
too fussy and are relatively easy to care for. Above all, don’t over-water --
plants should be kept on the dry side but don’t allow them to get bone dry. Keep
them away from drafts and sources of heat like a fireplace.
Poinsettias like bright light and will drop leaves and get
leggy in a location that’s too dark. A window will provide the light and cool
nighttime temperatures plants need to thrive.
It’s possible to keep
a poinsettia alive and blooming from year to year, but like most people, I toss
mine out about mid-February. It seems sad and cruel to throw away something
that was so lovely during the holidays. But by next Christmas, another showy
poinsettia will catch my eye, and this year’s beautiful blooms will be just a
happy memory.
Here’s hoping your holiday season will be filled with happy
memories, too.
PS We’ve all
heard the rumors that poinsettias are poisonous. Apparently this urban legend
started in 1919 when it was reported that a two-year-old had died after eating
a leaf. According to the American Society of Florists, poinsettias have been
tested more than any other plant and the verdict is they are safe for people
and pets. But you still wouldn’t want to eat one.
3 comments :
I am with you on the blue ones, and don't get me started on the glittered ones. Happy new year to you!
Happy New Year to you, Les! Now that we are in January, hopefully most of those glittered poinsettias have found their way to the trash bins!
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