The Christmas Flower

Interesting Facts About Poinsettias

• In nature, Poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that were once considered weeds.

Poinsettias are not poisonous.

• The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored modified leaves.

• Poinsettias have also been called the lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower, due to the red color.

• Joel Roberts Poinsettia introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. Poinsettia was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico.

• In Mexico the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that will grow 10-15 feet tall.

• There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today. Poinsettias come in colors like the traditional red, white, pink, burgundy, marbled and speckled.

• The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows over 70% of all Poinsettias purchased in the United States and does about 50% of the world-wide sales of Poinsettias.

• December 12th is Poinsettia Day, which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsettia in 1851.

For more info go to: http://www.poinsettiaday.com/