10 neat things about poinsettia
When the holiday season rolls around, poinsettias take centre stage as the ultimate festive plant. With their vibrant red, pink, and white bracts, they brighten homes, offices, and celebrations across the country. But there’s more to these iconic plants than their dazzling beauty. From their tropical origins to their surprising scientific quirks, poinsettias are full of fascinating secrets. Here are 10 neat things you might not know about this holiday favourite!
1. They aren’t flowers, they’re leaves
What most people think of as the poinsettia’s flower petals are actually modified leaves called bracts. The true flowers are the small, yellowish-green clusters in the centre of the bracts, called cyathia.
2. They grow wild in Mexico.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they grow as shrubs or small trees reaching heights of up to 12 feet. In their natural environment, they bloom during winter and were associated with religious ceremonies long before becoming a holiday favourite.
3. They can’t take the cold.
Poinsettias are sensitive to cold, so ask for them to be wrapped in multiple layers of paper or plastic at the store. Ideally, have your car prewarmed and have someone pick you and your plant up at the door. They can suffer damage when exposed to temperatures below 10 Celsius. Prolonged exposure to temperatures below 4 Celsius can cause the leaves to blacken and drop off, and anything below 0 Celsius will kill the plant outright
4. Their red colour is created by light.
Poinsettias need 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness each day for several weeks to develop their iconic red bracts. This photoperiodism is triggered by shorter winter days, mimicking the plant’s native tropical conditions.
5. More colours today.
6. Their "toxic" reputation is exaggerated.
Despite the myth, poinsettias are not highly toxic. If ingested, they can cause mild irritation or upset stomach in pets and humans, but they’re far from deadly. A 50-pound child would need to eat more than 500 bracts to experience significant harm.
7. Aztecs called them cuetlaxochitl.
That’s pronounced kweh-tlah-SOH-chee-tl.The Aztecs prized poinsettias for their vibrant colour, which symbolised purity. They used the plant medicinally, particularly its sap, to treat fevers. There is no scientific evidence that the sap is effective in treating fevers, though.
8. To get multiple buds.
To create the multi-flowered poinsettias we see today, breeders use a fascinating technique: they introduce a harmless infection known as a phytoplasma. This infection encourages the plant to grow extra side shoots (axillary buds), which makes it possible to develop fuller, more floriferous plants.
9. They’re one of the top-selling potted plants.
Poinsettias are among the most popular potted plants globally, particularly during the holiday season. In Canada alone, millions of poinsettias are sold each year, with growers cultivating a variety of colours, including pink, white, and marbled patterns.
10. Keep your poinsettia alive for next year with proper care.
After the holidays, keep your poinsettia in a bright location, water it only when the soil feels dry, and cut it back to about 6 inches in early spring. Move it outdoors in the summer, repotting it if needed, and fertilise monthly. In the fall, give it 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness each day for eight weeks to trigger the colourful bracts, and it will be ready to shine again next holiday season!
