Although every state in the United States grows poinsettias commercially, California is the top producer with over 6 million pots grown, followed by North Carolina with 4.4 million pots sold, and Texas with about 3.7million. Florida and Ohio round out the top 5, each with over 3 million poinsettias sold.
Where do poinsettias grow naturally?
Native to Mexico , poinsettias are in the Euphorbia family and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). There is also a species that is used as a cut flower. They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays, but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year.
Which state sells the most poinsettia?
Poinsettias are the most sold flowering plant in the United States and it all started with a South Carolina man in the 1820s. More than 80 million poinsettias are sold each year, which makes them the most sold flowering potted plant in the country (by a large margin!).
What zones do poinsettias grow in?
Native to tropical parts of Mexico and Central America, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are showy perennials that are hardy in zones 9 to 11 , and they’re surprisingly easy to grow.
Where does the poinsettia the most popular Christmas plant come from?
Indigenous to Mexico and Central America , the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays.
What is the life expectancy of a poinsettia plant?
“Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years . If they’re really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years.”
Do poinsettias like sun or shade?
Poinsettias need a minimum of six hours of indirect sunlight each day . Protect the plants from freezing temperatures, especially when transporting them. Place them in a light-filled room away from drafts. They do best in rooms between 55 and 65 F at night and 65 to 70 F during the day.
Are blue poinsettias real?
Those odd-colored poinsettias seen popping up in stores for the last few years are real . They just also happen to be covered with a layer of dye that gives them a poinsettia color not found in nature. ... The blue or orange poinsettia can fit into a decorating scheme that would be ruined by large, bright-red bracts.
Where do poinsettia come from?
The poinsettia is native to Southern Mexico and has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries. In 1828, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Doctor Joel Poinsett, sent a clipping of the plant back to home in South Carolina. Dr. Poinsett shared the plant with other people and it was eventually called the Poinsettia.
Are purple poinsettias real?
Poinsettias can also be orange, pink, pale green, and even purple . Those might not be associated with the holiday, but all of them are brilliant images that can occupy your home’s main décor in any other part of the year.
Can a poinsettia live outside in the winter?
Answer: Both the Christmas cactus and the poinsettia are not hardy outdoors and will freeze if planted outside . They should remain in their pots and not be planted outdoors in the garden if you live where it freezes in the winter. ... Poinsettias can become rather large and need a large pot.
When should I put my poinsettia in the dark?
In mid- to late October place your poinsettias in a completely dark area from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily until red color starts to develop on the flowers or “bracts.” “This can take quite a while,” Penhallegon said. “People often forget to cover the plant one or two nights.
Do poinsettias like to be root bound?
As a poinsettia grows over the summer, its roots grow as well , and they can get cramped in a small pot. ... Repotting keeps the plant from becoming root-bound.
Are poinsettias only for Christmas?
Other fowering plants have become part of the festive scene, but poinsettias alone remain unchallenged as the traditional flower of Christmas . ... It also is significant that the poinsettia not only is the most popular Christmas plant but also is the No. 1 flowering potted plant in the United States.
Why do we give poinsettias at Christmas?
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the ‘Flores de Noche Buena’, or ‘Flowers of the Holy Night’. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ .
What flower represents Christmas?
Poinsettia – Perhaps the most recognizable flower for Christmas is the poinsettia. Originally sold with bright red and green leaves (the “flowers” are actually leaves on the plant), poinsettias today are sold in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
