According to legend, a young peasant girl picked poinsettia greens as a Christmas Eve gift for the baby Jesus. Poinsettias come in over 100 different varieties, and the poinsettia meaning changes depending on the color of the plant. Bract color in poinsettia mutates very easily, Trinklein said. The coast is lowlands, but the rest of the countries are made up of . Updates? It is a little-known fact that the poinsettia was introduced to the gardening world from the Bartram Botanic Garden in 1829. [25][26], The poinsettia occurs in North and Central America, from Mexico to southern Guatemala. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. Poinsett was Secretary of War and loathed Indigenous Americans, helping to force them westwards which is ironic since this plant is native to the Americas and was so important in Indian history. National Poinsettia Day on December 12 also forms a cultural bridge between the U.S. and Mexico. See more advice on how totake care of poinsettias and otherChristmas plants. The new euphorbia was re-named Poinsettia pulcherrima by Robert C. Graham, Regius Professor of Botany at Edinburgh, in an article prepared both for Curtiss and the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. The angels felt compassion for her plight. The botanical name for Poinsettias is Euphorbia pulcherrima, which literally means the most beautiful Euphorbia. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, where it grows in moist, wet, wooded ravines and on rocky hillsides. Poinsettia is our nations most popular potted flowering plant. With proper care, poinsettias stay beautiful throughout the holiday season. And, I woulda thought the poinsettia would've been snatched up as the perfect plant for Christmas not because of a marketing scheme, but because it was the Christmas colors. 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. . The colorful part of the poinsettia that we enjoy isnt a flower. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America regions, from southern Guatemala to Mexico. Euphorbia Pulcherrima, also known as Poinsettia, Christmas Flower, Winter Rose, Christmas Star, or Mexican Flame Leaf, is a species of perennial shrubs or small trees in the Euphorbiaceae family. In their native region of southern Mexico, poinsettias flower during the winter season. Today, Poinsettias grace the mantels, hearths, dinner tables, and front porches of homes all over the world during the holidays. In addition to pushing for research funding, Paul Ecke Jr., revolutionized how poinsettias were produced and sold. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. When she placed the bouquet down, it changed into beautiful red poinsettias. [28] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. Just pin this image to one of your trivia boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later. Poinsettia resembled a known North American native, Euphorbia heterophylla and so for a time it was referred to under that name. Post author: Post published: November 3, 2021 Post category: sarah khan net worth in rupees Post comments: how to enable in app purchases on ipad how to enable in app purchases on ipad Because of its brilliant color, the poinsettia was a symbol of purity to the Indians. The paper trail of the poinsettia next appears at The first semi-annual Exhibition of fruits, flowers and plants, of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, held June 6, 1829. The red parts of the poinsettia that appear to be flower petals are actually leaves (called bracts). March 1, 2023, Publication date: It is traditionally regarded as a true Christmas flower. The poinsettia ( / pnst ( i) /; [1] [2] [3] Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Welcome Center: Open Friday & Saturday, 9:30 am4:30 pm, Public Restrooms: Open MondaySaturday, 9:30 am4:30 pm. They became associated with the Christmas holiday and are popular seasonal decorations. Many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family ooze a milky white sap which can cause skin irritations for people who are allergic to latex. All content on this site is Carol G Speake (Always The Holidays) unless otherwise stated. Poinsettias are often used during this day. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Just be sure that cold temperatures in your area don't drop below 45 degrees . As of 2012, wild poinsettias were not protected by Mexican law. North America: View of the Milky Way over Echo Lake in Colorado. B. Hans Yodeler. Lets celebrate this beautiful plant by learning facts about poinsettias, and discovering more about the history, origin and symbolism and meaning of the poinsettia. The ancient Aztecs called them 'cuetlaxochitl'. The young gardener, Robert Buist, returned to Europe in 1831 and found the scarlet flower was unknown. The common name we use today was believed to have been coined around 1836. Many new poinsettia colors are not the result of plant breeding. Celebrate Santas List Day Find Out Who Is On The Nice List This Year. 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. [14] All flowers in the Euphorbiaceae are unisexual (either male or female only), and they are often very small in size. Poinsettias ( Euphorbia pulcherrima) do need special care to keep bloomingand can be kept year after year to rebloom, if you give them proper care. In the United States, California produces the most Poinsettias followed by North Carolina in second place, and then by Texas in third place. He developed a secret grafting technique for the plants. BONUS: Youll also receive our freeBeginner GardeningGuide! William Maclure returned briefly to Philadelphia in the fall of 1828, and he brought yet more Mexican seeds and plants with him. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444. Then touch the surface of the soil. Ambassador Poinsettia offered to buy Texas so he could reintroduce slavery into Tejas. The popularity of the poinsettia as a Christmas flower is due, in large part, to the Ecke family. If that's your experience, it's time you learned about growing poinsettia plants outside. Poinsettias grow as a perennial shrub in Mexico and parts of Central America. More than 100 species ofbirdsrely on this ecosystem. [36] There are over 100 cultivated varieties of poinsettia that have been patented in the US. "[8], The poinsettia is the world's most economically important potted plant. Research conducted decades ago at Ohio State University debunked that urban legend, which still circulates today. Around 1920 in southern California, a horticulturist named Paul Ecke became the next key person to promote the poinsettia. In rare cases, exposure to the eye may result in eye irritation. Cuetlaxochitl: the origin of the Poinsettia. In 1834, Europeans first described the poinsettia. . It is native to the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. Want to learn more about this beautiful plant? You may also see it written as La Flor de la Nochebuena, which means Flower of Christmas Eve. The real tragedy of this limited history is that we have adopted the name, poinsettia, that was conferred on the plant by the so-called American statesman who was asked by the Mexican government to leave the country. In addition to being an avid botanist, Joel Roberts Poinsett was very passionate about science. Omissions? The Legend of the Poinsettia as a Christmas Plant, take care of poinsettias and otherChristmas plants, Poinsettia Care: How to Take Care of Poinsettia Flowers, Best Flowering Trees and Shrubs for Your Garden. Would you like a reminder of these poinsettia facts? In his teens, he was sent to an academy in Connecticut administered by Timothy Dwight, a noted educator. Check out this post to learn how to grow poinsettias indoors for the holidays and beyond. Cultivated varieties are available with white, pink, mottled, and striped bracts, but the solid red varieties, in several shades, remain in greatest demand during the Christmas season. Poinsettia was one of my mother's favorite plants.La flor de Pascua era una de las plantas preferidas de mi madre. 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company While the Smithsonian is so much more than a museum, Joel Roberts Poinsett is the man we have to thank for the part of the Smithsonian that is a museum! Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. [21], Poinsettias are popularly, though incorrectly, said to be toxic to humans and other animals. Philadelphia, PA 19143 A German botanist, Wilenow, named it Euphorbia pulcherrima (most beautiful) in 1833, the correct scientific name to this day. Some may surprise you! An Act of Congress has even set December 12, the death of Joel Poinsett, as National Poinsettia Day to commemorate a man and his plant. what is the poinsettia called in central america. Feb. 1, 2023. In nature, the lengthening nights of late September and October trigger poinsettias to flower, Trinklein said. National Poinsettia Day Poinsettia Colors, Symbolism, Facts & more! In fact, he is one of the reasons the Smithsonian Institute exists as a museum. It was almost certainly seen by early European explorers and colonists, but somehow never entered cultivation in Europe. December 12 has been officially designated by the U.S. Congress as National Poinsettia Day in honor of the first Ambassador to the new Republic of Mexico, Joel Poinsett, as well as of American businessman, Paul Ecke Jr., who later successfully marketed the poinsettia worldwide. It is commonly known as poinsettia after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825. Mini poinsettias in a 6cm pot only need half a shot glass of water. Holidays are my favorite times of the year, because there's no feeling like celebrating with friends and family. At the time, Joel Roberts Poinsett was the US Secretary of War, and was in charge of the United States Exploring Expedition. It is also called the Atatrk flower in Turkey. #poinsettiafacts. Aztec people loved poinsettia plants because they produced a bright red dye. If you see something that doesnt appear correct, please click here to contact us. The legend says that there once was a little girl from Mexico named Pepita who wanted to see the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. Cultivated and valued in Central America long before the arrival of Europeans, Euphorbia pulcherrima (meaning very beautiful Euphorbia) is known more commonly as Poinsettia. They make a lovely and festive houseplant. See whatsblooming, find a favoritetree, and stroll thegardensand natural lands. The demand for live poinsettias faces increasing criticism for being wasteful. Below are some of our favorite plant themednational days: If you love trivia and want to learn more facts about all kinds of things, make sure you head to our fun facts section. His father was a prominent physician and as a boy, Poinsett was educated by his father and private tutors. Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres the Central America isthmus is bordered in the northwest by the country of Mexico, and in the southeast by the country of Colombia. Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. poinsettia, (Euphorbia pulcherrima), well-known member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), commonly sold as an ornamental at Christmastime. 1121 Main Street | P.O. The Eckes' technique made it possible to get every seedling to branch, resulting in a bushier plant. [30], Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations[31] 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. Mexico outlawed slavery in 1820. They produced a fuller, more compact plant by grafting two varieties of poinsettia together. Poinsettias prefer moist, well-drained soils with a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Always the Holidays (RJS & CGS Enterprises LLC) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. In Chile and Peru, it is known as the Crown of the Andes. It was said that its milky white sap, called latex, could be used to reduce fever symptoms. I am a history-lover and will do more research on my own, but can you share your sources, or is your comment based on oral histories passed down through generations? Despite its short sales period, poinsettia contributed $170 million to the U.S. economy last year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 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. The plants can be kept as houseplants, though they require specific care in order to trigger the bracts to change colour and bloom again the following year. Flor . Calling Southwest students: paidinternshipsavailable with the river, the farm, and the trees. [24] It can induce asthma and allergic rhinitis in certain groups of people. Stroll the Schuylkill River Trailor join us for biking! Though Arnold later admitted that the story was hearsay and that poinsettias were not proven to be poisonous, the plant was thus thought deadly.