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.
Several poinsettias were placed on my front porch as I get ready for Christmas.


Red poinsettias really brighten the season.


I’m wishing you a beautiful Christmas and New Year.


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I love these poinsettias Carol. I’m going to go out and get a couple of them to put in my home.
Cruisin Paul
they do brighten the home at Christmas!
…and they come is so many colors today!
Interesting story. We call them Christmas star and the plant is very popular in this season. Very decorative!
Nothing says Christmas like a poinsettia. They always make a good hostess gift during the holiday season. – Margy
I’m not a huge fan of poinsettias but I have bought one to give a friend for her birthday. It does look nice on my kitchen counter so maybe I’ll buy myself one too!
#MMBC
Luv the vibrance of Christmas pointsettias
Happy mosaic Monday
Much💜love
The Poinsettia is here again in our Home. We love this bloom to this magical season. We call this Weihnachtsstern – translated so called Christmas Star.
Happy MosaicMonday ⭐ Have a good week.
They really are beautiful and last so long here in Florida! Happy holidays!
This might be my first year without one unless I pick one up closer to the holiday. I just don’t have room, but I really do love them!
They LQQK beautiful Poinsettias are a must at Christmas nice captures 🙂
Have a Poinsettiastastic week 👍
Poinsettias are so pretty! We can only find them in the highlands over here in my corner of the world.
Happy Tuesday, Carol!
Not like Christmas without these. A beautiful Christmas and New Year to you and all loved ones too.
Beautiful! Thank you!
What a great collection. I wonder how this whole thing started for the Christmas season with poinsettias!
They are such beautiful flowers. I’ve seen them lately in many colors but I love red the best. When my husband and I visited Mexico on a cruise I was happy to see many poinsettias in a town square, as they flourish there. Happy December–enjoy the holiday season!
thanks Pat – wishing you a joyous December!
Poinsettias are so pretty, and the brachts come in several colors now (white, pink, white and red speckled). But the red still, for me, the most decorative. I try to keep them alive through the summer (not hardy where I live) as I like them so.
Carol – Sorry for the delay in commenting – I had to make an emergency visit to Ohio to visit my brother in the hospital.
At the hospital, they had an amazing bank of LARGE poinsettias, so perfect they almost did not look real! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
Your brother is in my prayers.
My favorite! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.
Lovely poinsettias , Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.