Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch
North America: Poinsettia, Christmas Star
Mexico / Central America: Flor de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve Flower)
UK / Ireland: Poinsettia
General horticulture trade: White poinsettia (cultivar group)
A perennial shrub in its native range, widely grown as a seasonal ornamental. The showy “flowers” are actually colored bracts (modified leaves) surrounding small, yellow-green true flowers called cyathia.
This specimen is a white-bracted cultivar. Bracts turn pale to white under short-day conditions (long nights), producing the classic holiday display. True flowers appear as small clustered structures near the centers of the bracts.
Leaves are typically broad, pointed, and medium-to-dark green. In containers, plants are kept compact through pruning and controlled light and temperature. In suitable outdoor climates, plants can grow into woody shrubs.
Like other spurges, poinsettia exudes a milky latex sap when cut or damaged. This sap can irritate skin and eyes and may cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested.
Native range: Mexico and parts of Central America, particularly Pacific slope regions.
Introduced / cultivated: Grown worldwide as an ornamental. Outdoors, it is perennial only in frost-free or mild-winter climates. In colder regions, it is primarily maintained as an indoor seasonal plant.
Light: Bright, indirect light indoors; bright light with some sun outdoors. Avoid intense mid-day sun in containers.
Temperature: Prefers moderate warmth; protect from frost and cold drafts.
Water: Water thoroughly, then allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly before watering again. Avoid waterlogged roots.
Soil: Well-draining potting mix; containers must drain freely.
Humidity / Air: Average indoor humidity is sufficient. Avoid placement near heating vents.
Holiday color maintenance: Keep away from cold windows and temperature swings to reduce leaf and bract drop.
Common methods:
Stem cuttings (most reliable for cultivars; preserves bract color traits).
Cuttings root best under warm, humid conditions with clean cuts and well-drained media.
Photoperiod (re-blooming):
Bract coloration is triggered by long nights. To re-color for the holidays, plants require consistent darkness each night for several weeks in fall. Any interruption of darkness can delay or prevent coloration.
Common pests: Whiteflies, spider mites, mealybugs, aphids.
Common issues: Root rot from overwatering or poor drainage; leaf drop caused by cold drafts, low light, or sudden environmental changes.
Prevention: Stable temperature, good airflow, clean foliage, and careful watering.
“Toxic” reputation: Poinsettias are often overstated as highly poisonous. They are not typically deadly, but sap contact can cause irritation, and ingestion may lead to mild stomach upset—especially in pets and small children. Treat as a household irritant plant and keep out of reach.
White bracts: White cultivars may display green veining or subtle blush tones depending on cultivar and environmental conditions.
Ecological note: Heavily cultivated as an ornamental. Outdoor planting should consider local climate; invasive potential is generally low in cold regions due to frost sensitivity.
Seasonal indoor care:
Provide bright light, moderate watering, and stable temperatures. Remove decorative foil or covers that trap water at the base of the pot.
After-holiday keep-alive:
Continue standard care; prune lightly after bracts fade. Repot in spring if rootbound and begin light feeding during active growth.
Re-coloring program (fall):
Provide uninterrupted long nights for multiple weeks while maintaining bright daytime light. Even brief light exposure during dark hours can reduce or delay bract coloration.
Poinsettias feel inseparable from Christmas now, but that association is surprisingly recent and entirely constructed.
Euphorbia pulcherrima is native to southern Mexico, where it grew as a large, leggy shrub and had nothing to do with December décor. Long before it became a houseplant, it was used by Indigenous peoples for dye and traditional medicine. Its winter color change—triggered naturally by long nights—was simply a seasonal behavior, not a holiday signal.
The Christmas connection begins with Franciscan monks in 17th-century Mexico, who used the plant in nativity processions because it reliably colored up during Advent. The red bracts fit Christian symbolism neatly, and the plant was folded into religious tradition through use, not intention. It wasn’t sacred; it was convenient.
The modern poinsettia, however, is a thoroughly American invention. In the 1820s, Joel Roberts Poinsett—U.S. minister to Mexico and enthusiastic plant collector—sent cuttings north. By the early 20th century, California growers had figured out how to force compact growth and reliable color timing. What had been a rangy shrub became a standardized seasonal product.
The real transformation came with mid-century marketing. The Ecke family, who dominated poinsettia production for decades, aggressively linked the plant to Christmas through television appearances, White House placements, and retail saturation. By the time most people noticed, the association felt ancient.
That’s the quiet lesson poinsettias offer at Christmas: traditions don’t have to be old to feel inevitable. A plant, a market, and a calendar aligned, and a cultural symbol was born. Every December, we reenact that alignment without thinking about it—bringing a Mexican shrub, refined by American horticulture, into our homes as if it had always been there.
Like many Christmas customs, the poinsettia isn’t timeless. It’s seasonal, contingent, and human-made. And that, in its own way, feels exactly right for a holiday built around ritual, repetition, and the gentle suspension of disbelief.