What is special about poinsettias?

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity. The Poinsettia is also the national emblem of Madagascar.

What does the poinsettia plant symbolize?

While considered by the ancient Aztecs to be symbols of purity, in today’s language of flowers, red, white or pink poinsettias, the December birth flower, symbolize good cheer and success and are said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.

What were poinsettias used for?

The plant had a long history of medicinal use. It was said that its milky white sap, called latex, could be used to reduce fever symptoms. The plant was so highly prized in Aztec culture that “Cuetlaxochitl,” as the plant was known, was also used to create red and purple dyes for clothing and textiles.

How much poinsettia is poisonous?

According to the POISINDEX information source – the primary resource used by the majority of poison control centers nationwide – a child who weighed 50 lbs. would have to eat over 500 poinsettia leaves to reach an even potentially toxic dose of compounds in the poinsettia plant.

Why are poinsettias popular at Christmas?

Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice of Jesus’s crucifixion.

Is a poinsettia a flower?

Poinsettias bloom when the days get shorter. The colorful “flowers” of poinsettias are actually modified leaves called “bracts.” Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F. They can be grown outdoors during summer.

Why are poinsettias Christmas flowers?

The reason we associate poinsettias with the holidays comes from an old Mexican legend. A young girl named Pepita was sad that she didn’t have a gift to leave for the baby Jesus at Christmas Eve services. From that day on, they became known as “Flores de Noche Buena,” or “Flowers of the Holy Night.”

What are the benefits of a poinsettia?

Poinsettia is a flowering plant. The whole plant and its sap (latex) are used to make medicine. Despite safety concerns, people take poinsettia to treat fever, stimulate breast milk production, and cause an abortion. They also take the latex to kill pain, kill bacteria, and cause vomiting.

Are poinsettias edible?

It’s not just that poinsettias are beautiful, and showy, and make the porch look really good and seem to light a fire under the holiday spirit. Besides all that, poinsettias are also incredibly edible.

What is the story of the poinsettia?

A Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico (Spanish for “flowers of the holy night”).

Do poinsettias have flowers?

Poinsettia flowers are actually made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center, called cyathia. The colorful bracts attract insects to the flowers and will drop after pollination. Poinsettias are not harmful to animal or human health. But they should not be eaten.

Does Poinsettia need sun?

Light: Poinsettias need a minimum of six hours of bright (but not direct) sunlight each day. Temperature: These plants prefer temperatures from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day with a drop from 60 to 65 degrees at night. The lower night temperatures help the poinsettias keep their brilliant color.

Is Poinsettia hurt by cold?

Poinsettias are tropical plants typically grown in greenhouses , so despite their popularity in winter, they despise the cold . Any leaves that press against an icy window after you position the plant in your home will perish, and the chill could even affect the health of the poinsettia as a whole.

How cold hardy are poinsettia plants?

The holiday poinsettia is Euphorbia pulcherrima (syn. Poinsettia pulcherrima .) It is reported to be cold hardy in zone 9. I have seen plants survive in protected sites in northern zone 9a. For best flowering, grow it in a sunny, well-drained site.

When to plant Poinsettia?

All container plants need good soil, the right size container and excellent drainage, and poinsettias are no exception. The optimum time for transplanting is late spring to early summer. The University of Minnesota recommends June 15 as your target date.