What is the story behind the poinsettia?

What is the story behind the poinsettia?

A Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico (Spanish for “flowers of the holy night”).

Where Are poinsettias from originally?

Central America
The poinsettia flower is native to Central America – specifically, an area in southern Mexico called “Taxco del Alarcon” – and the plants were used by the ancient Aztecs to make a purple dye for clothing and cosmetics. They also used the poinsettias’ milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers.

Where Are poinsettias originally from and what is their meaning?

Native to the tropical forests of Mexico and Central America, poinsettias are the ornamental plants of the Euphorbiaceae family. Botanically, they’re called Euphorbia pulcherrima that means the most beautiful Euphorbia. In their homeland, they’re known as the painted leaf, or the Mexican flame flower.

Where did the man who the poinsettia was named after live?

As Reader’s Digest points out, the name honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, who served as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, and brought the plants back to his home in the states. According to the University of Illinois, Poinsett was a botanist and physician living in Charleston, South Carolina.

What is the lifespan of a poinsettia?

“Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years. If they’re really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years.”

Who started the American tradition of poinsettia at Christmas?

Joel Roberts Poinsett was a man of many talents. He was not only the first person to introduce the poinsettia to the United States, but he was the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, and was also a skilled and passionate botanist who co-founded the institution that we now call the Smithsonian Institute.

Why is poinsettia associated with Christmas?

Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. 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.

What does a white poinsettia mean?

What Do White Poinsettias Mean? White poinsettias were once considered to be symbols of purity by the Aztecs, but now it’s now the flower for December birthdays. The poinsettia is also said to be a symbol of good cheer, success, and bring with them wishes of happiness and celebrations.

What is the life expectancy of a poinsettia plant?

Why was it called the Christmas Flower?

The Mexican poinsettia, known as the Christmas Flower in North America, is used in most Christmas decorations, owing to its bright red color and its blooming season coinciding with the Christmas holiday season.

Who created the poinsettia?

Paul Ecke Sr.
Paul Ecke Sr. developed the first poinsettia plants that could be grown indoors in grow pots. He began selling them at roadside stands in Hollywood, California. In 1923, he founded the Ecke Ranch that today provides nearly 80 percent of the plants that are bought and sold in the country.

How do you get a poinsettia to turn red again?

To make them turn red, you need to restrain exposure to light. As early as September, place it in a room that is exclusively lit up by natural light, and check that it stays in complete darkness for 14 hours on a 24 hour day. Do this for eight weeks!

Is Poinsettia native to Florida?

Florida has two native poinsettias, the wide-ranging, red tinged E. cyathophora , commonly known as Painted Leaf and the endangered E. pinetorum, found only in the lower part of South Florida. They are smaller, wild relatives with a similar but more modest look than the ornamental tropical poinsettia.

Where do poinsettias grow wild?

Poinsettias grow wild in Mexico and Guatemala, warm regions with mild nights. The blooms are actually colorful bracts, which appear when the inconspicuous flowers arrive, and persist months after the flowers are spent.

What is the history of Poinsettia?

An ornamental shrub, the poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, where it was known as Flor de la Noche Buena or “Flower of the Holy Night”. It is believed to have been used as a Christmas decoration as early as the 17th century when Franciscan monks near Taxco , Mexico incorporated the plant in their Nativity processions.

What is the origin of the word Poinsettia?

The poinsettia was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett , the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. The name poinsettia is derived from his name. The botanical name for the poinsettia is Euphorbia pulcherrima.