Gardening
in Panama - Articles
by Donna - The Visitor:
December 11, 2009
Poinsettias
By Donna Dawson
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they
grow wild, and were first introduced to the
United States in 1825 by Joel Robert
Poinsett, amateur botanist and first
ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett brought some
cuttings to his plantation in Greenwood,
South Carolina. The rest is history. Today,
National Poinsettia Day, December 12th,
commemorates Poinsett and the plant he made
famous on the anniversary of his death in
1851.
The legend of the poinsettia dates back to a
Christmas Eve centuries ago, when a little
girl named Pepita had no gift to present to
the Christ child. On her way to the church
she gathered up weeds along the road. Then,
a miracle unfolded. As she approached the
alter, the weeds bloomed into vibrant
flowers -- Flores de Noche Buena or Flowers
of the Holy Night.
Poinsettias have also
been referred to as the Flame Leaf
Flower. In nature, they're a perennial
flowering shrub that can grow up to ten
feet in height. Poinsettias do not have
red petals. They are called bracts. The
flower part is the little cluster of
yellow and red balls in the centre of
the bracts.
They are not poisonous contrary to
popular belief. Euphorbias do contain a
milky-looking poisonous sap that the
stems and leaves secrete after any
injury and anyone with sensitive skin
should be aware it may cause blisters.
They love high humidity and regular
watering only when dry – I water mine
when the leaves start to wilt a bit.
