The History of the Christmas Poinsettia Flower

In addition to being the most widely known holiday flower of all, the Christmas poinsettia is also the most favorite flowering potted plant, with thousands being sold throughout the Uk and the United States each and every year.

Also known as "the Christmas flower," "lobster flower," or "Mexican flame leaf," the poinsettia has a rather colorful history dating back to the antique Aztec population who viewed the plant as a sticker of purity. A few hundred years later, Christians in Mexico belief the star-shaped leaves symbolized the Star of Bethlehem that led Joseph and Mary to the carport where Jesus was born. This, coupled with the fact that the plant was in full bloom during Christmas time, caused population to associate them with the holiday, which is why they are still the most used plant during that extra time of year for decorating.

Christmas

Poinsettias also have a place in Mexican legend that tells why the usually red plants are said to be known as Christmas flowers. Long ago, a poor child was said to be wandering down a road on Christmas Eve on his way to church worried that he didn't have a gift to offer the Christ child on his birthday. He picked a few weeds growing along side the road and brought them into the church where the congregation said that any humble gift given out of love was good enough, and soon the weeds turned into colorful red and green leaves, causing the population to call it a Christmas miracle.

A native to Central America, those in North America can thank a man by the name of Joel Roberts Poinsett for bringing the plant back with him to the States after visiting Mexico while serving there as the very first U.S. Ambassador in the early 1800s. Poinsett, the son of a French doctor, was a botanist from Greenville, South Carolina who once attended medical school but had a great interest in plant life.

While in southern Mexico, Poinsett noticed the fiery red blooms thriving in plentifulness in an area known as Taxco del Alarcon. Because he already had his own greenhouses at home, he excitedly sent a few of the plants back where he would soon begin growing them and sharing with friends and colleagues.

Now, the poinsettia can be found in any separate colors in addition to the original Christmas red. The plant blooms plainly in shades of cream, pale, lemony yellow, pinks and peaches, both with splashes of gold and white throughout the leaves, which are erroneously called flowers but are unmistakably the plant's upper leaves known as the bracts.

Poisonous Poinsettias?

Contrary to favorite belief, the poinsettia, or any part of the whole plant, is not poisonous. Scientific research conducted by various entities such as Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University and Children's Hospital, both in Pittsburgh, have found no toxicity, whether to animals or humans.

Of course, the flower is still not meant to be ingested and may cause a cat or dog to get an upset stomach after eating quite a few of them, but there's no need for pet owners to avoid enjoying the charm of the poinsettia at Christmas time for fear of an accidental poisoning.

National Poinsettia Day

In great honor of the man who first introduced the now well-known plant to the country, December 12th has been named National Poinsettia Day in the United States, marking the date of the death of Joel R. Poinsett. In addition to having the Christmas plant named after him, interestingly enough, Poinsett is also credited with founding what we know as The Smithsonian Institute.

The History of the Christmas Poinsettia Flower