This ubiquitous Christmas plant is a spurge, it comes from Mexico and gets its name from the American, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced it to the USA in 1825. Not very romantic, or Christmassy or British.
Does it still merit a place on your table this Christmas? well, yes – it does, and the reason is simple, it does the job.
It is red and green and showy, plus it is produced in such vast numbers that it is relatively cheap too – especially at a time when most flowers certainly are not.
They have been bred in a whole range of colours,
splished, splashed, speckled and stippled every which way but,
does this say Noel? No it does not. So stick to red, be happy with them lasting the length of the holidays and then discard them as you would cut flowers (unless, of course you really are green fingered). Talking of cut flowers,
I think they look their best just cut and arranged in vases –
even the weird and wonderful ones.
And they make rather splendid Christmas wreaths too! So, don’t be bored with poinsettia – they really are a part of Christmas cheer.
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