The poinsettia was brought to the United States from Mexico around 1828 by Joel Roberts Poinsett. An avid gardener and amateur botanist, Poinsett was appointed as the first US Minister to Mexico in 1825. While in Mexico, Poinsett observed this species flowering and sent plants back to his greenhouse in Charleston. Until that time, this species was unknown outside of its native range of Mexico and Guatemala, where it was referred to as flor de nochebuena (Christmas Eve flower). Once introduced to the U.S., it quickly gained the common name poinsettia, but is also known by many other common names including Christmas flower, Christmas star, lobster plant, painted leaf, and Mexican flame leaf.
This species has a reputation for being extremely poisonous. While there is little doubt that the milky latex of poinsettias can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, mucus membranes, or when consumed, to the digestive system, poinsettia is apparently one of the less toxic species of Euphorbia. Of reported human exposure, there were no fatalities.
Source: The Neighborhood Gardner, University of Florida
Poinsettia is toxic to cats and dogs and causes gastric distress.
Last week I found this planter of mixed poinsettias at Home Depot. I love the mix of white and red flowers. This isn’t a usual combination and I don’t know why. The mix is stunning. I put it on the dining table.
Happy Holidays!
For care of poinsettias in your home, see Red Poinsettias at Christmas
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Beautiful! And how lovely to read about its history! Thank you for sharing that. Great photos!
Happy Sunday Denise
They are just lovely!
Happy Advent, Carol!
Happy Advent!
So pretty! I saw someone at the market with artificially colored ones this week!
…they come in so many different colors and styles these days.
Beautiful flowers! I never knew the history of the poinsettia. That’s so interesting!
That combo is really pretty — I don’t know why we see it more often, either.
I know – I find it strange they aren’t mixed more often. Happy Sunday!
A pretty and popular Christmas flower! Another fun fact: In 1967 the Norwegian gardener Thormod Hegg (his nursery is situated close to where I live) launched a variety that puts side shoots without topping under the name ‘Annette Hegg’. This sort is later spread all over the world.
do you have photos of Annete Hegg? I’d love to see it
Here is a lik to an article about it with photos even of the gardeners daughter Anette Hegg 🙂 https://www.nibio.no/tema/mat/plantegenetiske-ressurser/nytteplanter-i-norge/utvalgte-kulturminneplanter/roser-liljer-og-stauder/anette-hegg-julestjerna-som-erobret-verden
thanks so much for the link and info!
These are beautiful flowers and how interesting to learn more about them x
I’m not sure I’ve seen a white one. They don’t tend to last very long over here in Dubai with the aircon on #mysundayphoto
I love Poinsettias, they scream Christmas to me, but with kitties…that’s a hard pass in the house. But I do enjoy looking at them.
Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade
I understand – better to be safe and not have them in the house.
I love poinsettias and have a hard time choosing between the two colors. This is a perfect compromise.
Carol – poinsettias always bring such a festive air to any home! Thanks for sharing this unique combo with everyone at Mosaic Monday!!!
These look so pretty! I think I’m going to get some for my table. 😃
I got them at Lowes.
Lovely blooms in Christmas time, Dawn. I like them so much but never buy again… I have no green thumb, we say here in Germany. Therefore my Poinsettia go withered and died after two or three weeks. Hope, you have a green thumb…
…happy MosaicMonday
Happy Monday!
I like your festive display with the poinsettia. Interesting facts and I didn’t know it was a species of euphorbia. Happy day to you!
Hello Carol,
The poinsettias are beautiful. They make a room so festive! Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy new week!
What beautiful flowers! They are a sure symbol of Christmas for me!
My guess is that the mixed colors of the Poinsettias is a 2020 surprise (reminiscent of the stark contrasts this year? lol They look excellent on your table. Hope they will last a long time! (In California some people plant their poinsettias in their yard after Christmas! Many thanks for sharing this delightful treasure with All Seasons! Have a bright and beautiful week, Jesh
I’ve tried planting them but do not have any luck growing them. None of my gardening friends can grow them either. I did once see a gorgeous bush of poinsettias further south on the west coast on Santibel Island. It was gorgeous.
I love seeing all the different varieties of poinsettias around but never think to buy any. I got out of the habit when my boys were little and we had kittens that liked to eat plants but I always like the one that were white in the middle with reddish/pink tints around each of the petals.
I luv Poinsettias. Thanks for brightening up a little more, my day today
Happy Mosaic Monday
Much❤love
So pretty and so festive!
Thank you for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/12/i-miss-fall-colors.html
They are so very pretty. Carol! And such an interesting history of the poinsettias!
I’ve never seen one mixed like that! How beautiful! Happy holidays!
Happy Holidays!
I love a vibrant poinsettia at Christmas
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
Nice post and lovely photos and colours 🙂
Have a bloomingtastic safe week 😷😷😷
It wouldn’t be Christmas without seeing displays of poinsettias.
Oh wow… it’s just gorgeous!! I’ve never seen the mixed color variety before, but I’m loving it! 🙂
I can’t understand why no one planted both colors together before – but I love it.
Many people plant poinsettias in the ground after the holidays here.
they are hard to grow – no one I know in central Florida has had luck planting them. I’ve planted mine several times and they do not do well. They really need zone 10 in south Florida – can’t tolerate freezes.
The things I learn! I’m glad you share your photos and information.
Your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week is an exciting addition! Thanks for joining us!
They look lovely! I’m not sure that I’ve seen a white poinsettia before. My mum buys me one every year and they usually die pretty quickly, but I still have mine from 2016 and 2019. They don’t look great now, but they’re still alive, so I’m keeping them! #mysundayphoto
Try keeping them outside in the summer. They are tropical and like sun and heat. You probably need to re-pot them too.
Beautiful variety of Poinsettias.It would be my pleasure if you join my Link up party related to Gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/12/garden-affair-painting-earthen-pots.html
thanks for the invitation! I’ll drop by the party.
I have a big one about three years old. I don’t chill it so it’s green, but that’s okay.
It’s not the chill but the decreasing days of light that make the leaves turn red. You have to put the plant in a dark room starting in the fall and increase dark time as each day we naturally have less daylight.
You have a lovely collection of Poinsettias.Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair .Keep linking.