As mentioned earlier, the poinsettia is a symbol of Christmas because of a Mexican legend telling a poinsettia story set during the holiday. Aztec people loved poinsettia plants because they produced a bright red dye. Here you'll find recipes and craft projects to make your holidays even more special. I also love celebrating national days because, here, its Always the Holidays. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America regions, from southern Guatemala to Mexico. [37][11][12], To produce extra axillary buds that are necessary for plants containing multiple flowers, a phytoplasma infectionwhose symptoms include the proliferation of axillary budsis used. National Poinsettia Day on December 12 also forms a cultural bridge between the U.S. and Mexico. [6] Klotzsch credited Carl Ludwig Willdenow with the species name "pulcherrima", and the authority is given as Willd. Poinsettia plants are native to Central America, most commonly in southern Mexico, where they flower during the winter. Central America is very narrow. Lauren, regardless of where a flower was discovered or has possibly been used to divine a purpose dictated from someones heart, has nothing to do with the poinsettia that was created as a thing of beauty. They are named after the first U.S. Minister to Mexico Joel Poinsett, who introduced the plant to. How can you ignore the fact that it is rooted in Aztec history, specifically? The presence of the true flower indicates the plant is still relatively young, he said. (Although there is still some debate whether some North American Euphorbia species should be split off into a new genus Poinsettia. The Ecke family of southern California began growing Why are the leaves on a poinsettia plant red? 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. Many of these poinsettias are grown by Paul Ecke Ranch, which serves half the worldwide market and 70 percent of the US market. No fertilizer is needed while the plant is in bloom. They produced a fuller, more compact plant by grafting two varieties of poinsettia together. When Poinsett began to grow his namesake plant in Charleston after his return, it probably returned to him via the Philadelphia nursery community.. Winter Rose Dark Red. California remainsthe top U.S. poinsettia-producing state. Feb. 9, 2023, Publication date: Press Enter or Space to enter content for each tab button. See whatsblooming, find a favoritetree, and stroll thegardensand natural lands. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 2022 Carol G Speake. 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. The plants also require abundant light during the day for the brightest color. Shop for plants or grow food, trees, and more. 3: Oleander. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Water well and place the newly-potted plant in front of the brightest window you have, and once again keep it at a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If your poinsettia is wrapped in decorative foil, make sure there is a drain hole in the foil. Poinsett was so impressed by the beauty of these plants that he sent cuttings back to hisplantation near Georgetown,South Carolina,where they were propagated and called the Mexican Fire Plant. The plant was shared with botanical gardens and growers across the country. Gently firm the soil around the plant and water well. He resided in Mexico from 1825 to early 1830. As a major scientific scholar in 19th-century America, the botanist and statesman was the first to argue the Smithsonian should be a national museum . Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. ), It has long been the story that Poinsett personally introduced the poinsettia first to Charleston, bringing the plant on his return from Mexico, and from there it was discovered or sent to the Carrs in Philadelphia. In the early 1830s Robert Buist began sending plants or cuttings of poinsettia to Europe, and particularly to his friend James McNab at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. The winter-blooming plant was used for medicinal purposes (from its sap) and as a source of red . Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. Look up! Today, Poinsettias are not only the most popular Christmas plant, but the best-selling potted plant in the United States and Canada, contributingover $250 million to the U.S. economy at the retail level. Research conducted decades ago at Ohio State University debunked that urban legend, which still circulates today. Remove any excess water that is still in the planter after 10 minutes. Enjoy upcomingworkshops, self-care, and events. [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. Use Tab key to loop through the section below. If you make it out to the Smithsonian Gardens for Christmas this year, make sure to look at all of the beautiful poinsettias! Every year in the United States, approximately 70 million poinsettias of many cultivated varieties are sold in a six-week period. Here are five things you should know about Central America. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, where it grows in moist, wet, wooded ravines and on rocky hillsides. 1993 to document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Curators of the University of Missouri, all rights reserved, DMCA and other copyright information. If the soil feels clammy or moist, wait before adding more water. Long before the arrival of Europeans, the Aztecs of central Mexico cultivated the plant and called it Cuetlaxochitl. What looks like petals are specialized leaves called bracts. 1121 Main Street | P.O. And while we now take for granted the connection of poinsettias and Christmas, it would take a while for nurserymen to reliably flower the new scarlet plant in time for the early winter holidays. Its scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, meaning "very beautiful." John Bartram of Pennsylvania, the father of the American nursery industry, was the first to sell poinsettias under their botanical name. In Euphorbia, the flowers are reduced even more and then aggregated into an inflorescence or cluster of flowers. One year, I took advantage of an open house at a local wholesale grower's greenhouse to view the estimated 40,000 plants they had ready to be shipped out to stores in my region. Poinsettia is the plant's common name. Unlike fresh Christmas trees, the cultivation of which has some ecological benefits and for which many municipalities have recycling programs, poinsettias are fairly resource-intensive and typically end up in landfills after the holiday. It's a perennial shrub that was once considered a weed and will grow 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild. Resources and opportunities especially forneighborsin Southwest Philly. As they were walking, she picked a bunch of weeds growing by the side of the road and fashioned them into a bouquet. The Eckes' technique made it possible to get every seedling to branch, resulting in a bushier plant. It is the first known phytoplasma that has economically advantageous effects. Lets partner! In 1828 when he saw the beautiful red plant growing in Mexico, he began shipping some back to his home in South Carolina where he could grow and study them in his greenhouse. Cuetlaxochitl: the origin of the Poinsettia. You can skip fertilizer or plant food, Trinklein said. You cant talk about poinsettias without mentioning the name Paul Ecke. Poinsettias are native to Central America, specifically a region in Southern Mexico called Taxco de Alcaron. Though Arnold later admitted that the story was hearsay and that poinsettias were not proven to be poisonous, the plant was thus thought deadly. Today, Poinsettias grace the mantels, hearths, dinner tables, and front porches of homes all over the world during the holidays. The farthest away from the sea one can be is 125 miles. It is humid and consists of swamp lands. Bring the Garden home! Soon, the plants became popular across the U.S. and were renamed for Mr. Poinsett. All available evidence suggests that the poinsettia was first sent to the Bartram Garden in Philadelphia in the fall of 1828. As Christmas is quickly approaching, its the perfect time to talk about poinsettias. Aside from the Christmas tree itself, no plant symbolizes Christmas quite like the poinsettia. Bartrams Garden is located in Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people. Through selection & breeding by growers, many cultivars have been developed in the United States & Europe. This is such a limited history. They form a circle around a cluster of small yellow flowers on the plant. and it doesnt say anywhere that poinsetas are dangerious to animals, In reply to poinsetas by robert phillips (not verified). He gave free plants to talk shows, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which they featured on air. In the ancient Nahuatl language it is called cuetlaxochitl xochitl meaning ornamental flower. White poinsettias symbolize Christs purity. Poinsettia is a short-day plant, meaning it needs long periods of uninterrupted darkness each day in order to bloom. While poinsettias with red bracts remain the most popular, they also come in creamy white, shades of pink and orange, marbled in pink and white, and with pink flecks on red. It has since been spread in our gardens near Philadelphia, and is know in some as the Euphorbia Poinseti; but appears to me to form a peculiar genus or S. G. at least. [15], Pulcherrol and pulcherryl acetate are among the components of latex. Uncover the interconnected stories of thishistoric site. The plant called "Poinsetta" was discovered there by the American ambassador to Mexico James Poinsett. Robert Buist, a Philadelphia nurseryman, remembered seeing the first poinsettia roots unpacked at Bartrams Garden in 1828: On my arrival in this country from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, in 1828, I paid a visit to the famed Bartram Botanic Garden, and there saw two cases of plants which had just arrived from Mexico. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. National Poinsettia Day Poinsettia Colors, Symbolism, Facts & more! The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 716 centimetres (2.86.3in) in length. He became intrigued by the plant and sold them from street stands. For us to begin, we have to go all the way back to 14th-century Mexico. The popularity of the poinsettia as a Christmas flower is due, in large part, to the Ecke family. During the Victorian age, a "kissing ball" made of ornaments and ribbons with mistletoe at the end was placed high in the room . ", La flor de Noche Buena today known as Poinsettia is not a tropical flower central Mexico is not tropical is high altitude mountain region and is part of the North American continent. Categories Christmas, Fun Facts, Holidays. just read the article December 12, 2023. It was named for Joel R. Poinsett, who popularized the plant and introduced it to floriculture while he was U.S. minister to Mexico in the late 1820s. If that's your experience, it's time you learned about growing poinsettia plants outside. External exposure to the plant may result in a skin rash for some. Poinsettias are not the only plants with religious symbolism. Add to your knowledge of poinsettias by checking out these facts about poinsettias below. He first became involved in archaeological research at Bartrams Garden in 1975, and has participated in a number of archaeological and historic research projects at the garden site since. It's one of the most popular plants in the world, with annual sales of ~90m units and a global retail impact of nearly $1B. Poinsett, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, held various diplomatic and political positions through his life, but always continued a strong interest in natural science and horticulture. North America: View of the Milky Way over Echo Lake in Colorado. There are seven countries in Central America: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The poinsettia is said to have been used by . [27] Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. The colorful part that we might consider the poinsettia flower is actually a collection of colored leaves called "bracts." The plant's true flower is the tiny, yellow bloom in the middle of the bract, called a "cyathium." Poinsettias are not poisonous. Poinsettias were cultivated by the Aztecs of Mexico long before the introduction of Christianity to the Western Hemisphere. Join usyear-round to learn, make, share, and wonder. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like 1. It is actually the plant's leaves that provide its color through a process called photoperiodism. Often these trees can reach heights up to 10 feet tall. Tell the whole story. They also used the poinsettias' milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers. Poinsettia was one of my mother's favorite plants.La flor de Pascua era una de las plantas preferidas de mi madre. Now that you know the poinsettia isnt actually a flower, its interesting to think that poinsettias are one of the flowers that represent this month! They make a lovely and festive houseplant. The third largest continent on Earth covers an area of 24.7 million km (9.5 million sq mi) and is situated in Earth's western hemisphere. After suffering for two weeks with uncontrollable itching, hives and fevers, I found out the sap is poisonous to animals and some humans. Creating this institution was a big task and there wasnt a clear idea how it would work. If in doubt, it's better to keep poinsettias a little . It has been hypothesized that the inaccessibility of the canyons may protect the wild populations from human disturbance. The successful transport of live plants from Mexico to Philadelphia in 1828 was almost certainly due to the fact that a number of friends of Bartrams Garden were on the scene in Mexico. Take a close look at the cyathia as well. [11] Nothing is known about pollination in wild poinsettias, though wasps are noted to occasionally visit the cyathia. Ambassador Poinsettia offered to buy Texas so he could reintroduce slavery into Tejas. This is impossible for the poinsettia was shown to the Philadelphia public in June of 1829, over six months before Poinsett returned from Mexico. Make sure you check out our posts on the traditions of Christmas greenery and the history of mistletoe if this topic interests you. Because of its brilliant color, the poinsettia was a symbol of purity to the Indians. [9] Possibly as early as 1826, Poinsett began sending poinsettias from Mexico back to his greenhouses in South Carolina. What appear to be flower petals are actually leaves (called bracts). And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased! Native to southern Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia has become symbolic of the holiday season for many Americans. [8] Carr described it as "a new Euphorbia with bright scarlet bracts or floral leaves, presented to the Bartram Collection by Mr. Poinsett, United States Minister of Mexico. Poinsettia, Paul Ecke Sr. first started selling poinsettias in roadside stands. According to legend, a young peasant girl picked poinsettia greens as a Christmas Eve gift for the baby Jesus. According to Mexican lore, there was a young child,Pepita, who did not have a gift for the baby Jesus at a Christmas Eve service. During this period, perhaps in the winter of 1827-1828 Poinsett encountered the unnamed plant that now bears his name. He later established Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California. The Poinsettias native to southern Mexico & Mesoamerica, unlike todays commercial cultivars, grow into straight & tall trees. In their native environment, poinsettias grow like a shrub and can reach heights of up to 15ft tall. They also used the poinsettias' milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers. 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 Always the Holidays reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Mexico exports. At home, place it near a sunny window where it will get bright, indirect light for at least 6 hours a day. During this time of the year, poinsettias are all around! They are a small shrub, but over time have been trained to grow as the potted plants we so often see during Thanksgiving and Christmas. March 1, 2023, Publication date: poinsettia, (Euphorbia pulcherrima), well-known member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), commonly sold as an ornamental at Christmastime. The poinsettia ( / pnst ( i) /; [1] [2] [3] Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Updated. If you enjoyed learning these facts about poinsettias, and discovering National Poinsettia Day, youll be excited to know there are actually several national days of the year dedicated to plants. [11] In Spain it is known as flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning 'Easter flower'. Thomas Say sent over a hundred varieties of seeds from Mexico, of my own collecting in a letter to Robert Carr dated July 23, 1828. Updates? Skin exposure to the sap may cause itchiness, redness, or swelling. Congress passed a bill in 2002 making December 12, National Poinsettia Day (which is also the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsetts death). Cultivated and valued in Central America long before the arrival of Europeans, Euphorbia pulcherrima (meaning very beautiful Euphorbia) is known more commonly as Poinsettia. 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. Poinsett's Early Diplomacy. The plants are raised in greenhouses (it is big business), to be sold as potted flowers for the holidays. Mini poinsettias in a 6cm pot only need half a shot glass of water. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Everyone watching was convinced they had seen a miracle. What appear to be petals are actually coloured leaflike bracts that surround a central cluster of tiny yellow flowers. Imagine acres of poinsettias in all colors and sizes! It is commonly known as poinsettia after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825. Poinsettias have also been called the lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower, due to the red color. Fungal diseases affecting greenhouse poinsettia operations include Pythium root rot, Rhizoctonia root and stem rot, black root rot, scab, powdery mildew, and Botrytis blight. Even thought National Poinsettia Day is observed in the United States, December 12 is also celebrated in Mexico the celebration of Lady Guadalupe. Also, look at the underside of the leaves to check for insect damage. In warm climates the poinsettia grows outdoors as a winter-flowering leggy shrub about 3 metres (10 feet) high; as a potted plant in northern areas it rarely grows beyond 1 metre. She is a freelance writer, specializing in content related to fashion, food and drink and film industry topics. [11] In Chile and Peru, the plant became known as the "crown of the Andes". The poinsettia was made widely known because of a man named Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first Ambassador from the USA to Mexico in 1825. The young gardener, Robert Buist, returned to Europe in 1831 and found the scarlet flower was unknown. There is a somewhat anomalous population of wild poinsettias in the northern part of the Mexican state of Guerrero and Oaxaca, which is much further inland in the hot and seasonally dry forests than the rest of the species' range. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. The Aztecs used the poinsettia bracts to make a reddish-purple dye for fabrics and used the sap medicinally to control fevers. It is a little-known fact that the poinsettia was introduced to the gardening world from the Bartram Botanic Garden in 1829. 1. Since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jess has been living and working in Los Angeles, CA. Type 2 or more characters into the input search below for suggested results, use up and down arrow keys to navigate through suggest box. Poinsettias were brought from Mexico to the United States through way of South Carolina by Joel Roberts Poinsett. In Mexico, the poinsettia is known as Flor de Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve Flower. Scientifically, the Poinsettia is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning the most beautiful. The coast is lowlands, but the rest of the countries are made up of . Easter lilies and dogwood trees are linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and because of this, they are two of the symbols of Easter. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is known all across the world as the flower of Christmas. The plant had a long history of medicinal use. Genetic analyses showed that the wild populations in northern Guerrero are the likely ancestors of most cultivated poinsettias. Which country gave the US its first poinsettia plant? [5], An attempt to determine a poisonous dose of poinsettia to rats failed, even after reaching experimental doses equivalent to consuming 500 leaves, or nearly 1kg (2.2lb) of sap. Poinsettias come in many colors, including scarlet, ivory, pink and mauve. To promote poinsettias as a Christmas plant, he sent thecrimson-leavedplants to TV studios across the country, including The Tonight Show and Bob Hopes holiday specials. [11], The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Mara, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of the nativity of Jesus and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. 3 B. [29] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice of the crucifixion of Jesus. by. Dont forget to check out Santas list to see if youve been naughty or nice this year. In Spain, Puerto Rico, and other Central America countries it's known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Christmas Flower. This was the first public show of the PHS, a tradition continued today as the Philadelphia Flower Show. A German botanist, Wilenow, named it Euphorbia pulcherrima (most beautiful) in 1833, the correct scientific name to this day. See more advice on how totake care of poinsettias and otherChristmas plants. Copyright & Permissions 2023 - Carol G Speake. 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. Wild poinsettia populations are highly fragmented, as their habitat is experiencing largely unregulated deforestation. Intolerant of the cold, in the North, it is grown almost exclusively indoors. They also come in pink, white, orange, salmon, burgundy, speckled, and marbled. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. The Christmas flower, also called the poinsettia flower and the poinsettia plant, is native to southern Mexico and Central America. It is also called the Atatrk flower in Turkey. Infection by poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma is actually desirable, as it keeps the plants shorter with more flowers. Wild poinsettias occur from Mexico to southern Guatemala, growing on mid-elevation, Pacific-facing slopes. The poinsettia plant is a ubiquitous Christmas staple. . They also used the poinsettias' milky white sap wax to create a medicine to treat fevers. The Aztecs referred to poinsettia as "cuetlaxochitl" (brilliant flower), while the Maya called them "k'alul wits" (ember flower). Oleander ( Nerium oleander ), also known as rose bay, is native to the Mediterranean region eastward to India and southern China. Bacterial diseases include bacterial soft rot and bacterial canker, while a viral disease is Poinsettia mosaic virus. When shopping for a poinsettia, look for leaves and bracts that do not show any wilting, which could indicate root problems, Trinklein said. Theyre featured on Christmas cards, painted on ornaments, displayed on dinner tables, and found adorning front porches along with other festive decorations. They are grouped within the cyathia (small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch, or false flowers). Among the contents were the stumps of a strange-looking Euphorbia, which, after a few months growth, showed some very brilliant crimson bracts. (The young Buist soon built a very successful career on the new scarlet plant, and as a result he was credited with the introduction of the poinsettia to Europe in 1834.). Check out our post on National Poinsettia Day, including fun and festive ways to celebrate the day! The rest is history. 80% of the poinsettias sold in the United States come from Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. Overwatering is a common cause of death, so water only when the soil is dry and don't let the plant sit in water. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. "[8], The poinsettia is the world's most economically important potted plant. The legend says that there once was a little girl from Mexico named Pepita who wanted to see the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. They are beautiful, but the sap from the berries may cause an allergic reaction. Winter Rose Red. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. She was poor, and had no gift to give him. Unfortunately for history, Graham relied on Buists own incorrect account of the introduction of the plant, and omitted any mention of the Carrs or Bartrams Garden. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444. In the United States, California produces the most Poinsettias followed by North Carolina in second place, and then by Texas in third place. William Maclure returned briefly to Philadelphia in the fall of 1828, and he brought yet more Mexican seeds and plants with him. Check out this post featuring 27 Christmas plants. Some may surprise you! Funny thing about history though; it seems to change over time to suit a specific agenda. Some have even been treated with dyes, painted, or sprayed with glitter. (215) 729-5281 Poinsettias get their American name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who brought them to the states from Mexico in the early 1800s. Are you a Southwest artist? In Chile and Peru, it is known as the Crown of the Andes. The common name we use today was believed to have been coined around 1836. The modern common name poinsettia arose from Grahams description, and as the plant spread rapidly in cultivation in the UK and Europe it was known under the name poinsettia. The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829) by President James Madison. Poinsettias grow as a perennial shrub in Mexico and parts of Central America. . Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." The poinsettia is native to Central America, near southern Mexico. Just pin this image to one of your trivia boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later. As she lay the stems near the manger at the local church's nativity scene, they burst forth with red blossoms.
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