The Christmas Shrub
The poinsettia might best be known as a holiday flower, decorating our homes and offices during the Christmas period. But in Mexico, from where it hails, it’s just another shrub.
Even so, it has been associated with Christmas in Mexico since the 16th century, where it’s called the “flor de nochebuena,” (Christmas Eve flower), the Chicago Tribune reported.
Meanwhile, in Spain, it is known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning the Easter flower, while Hungarians call it Santa Claus’ Flower.
The plant, whose English name comes from a 19th century physician and diplomat, Joel Poinsett, became part of the American Christmas tradition in the 1920s. California grower, Paul Ecke, introduced the poinsettia to the public as a potted plant, thanks to technology developed at the time which allowed the plant to grow outside of its native Mexico.
Some clever marketing decades later made the plant ubiquitous during the holiday season. The Ecke family, which had a virtual monopoly on poinsettia production, created a buzz by showering television networks with free poinsettias from Thanksgiving to Christmas, and getting them on “The Tonight Show” and Bob Hope’s holiday specials.
In the ensuing years, the plant has even earned a distinction. Dec. 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
Meanwhile, it’s a smart plant, a survivor. Though most believe the appealing red “petals” constitute a flower, they’re actually the plant’s leaves.
“The actual bloom consists of tiny yellow flowers,” said Todd Jacobson, head of horticulture at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
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