6 Fascinating Facts About Poinsettias

Spread the love

6 Fascinating Facts About Poinsettias:- Get out of the way, mistletoe. The holiday season has arrived, and poinsettias, which are known for their cheery appearance, can be found everywhere you look. Despite the fact that the market for poinsettias is just around six weeks long, they are the most popular potted plant in the United States, and they contribute an astounding $250 million to the economy of our country each year.

 

6 Fascinating Facts About Poinsettias

During this time of year, numerous FFA chapters offer poinsettias, and customers are often anxious to include the colourful and flashy plants into their holiday decorations. If you continue reading, you will learn eight fascinating facts about this well-known festive plant.

 

Mexico’s History with Poinsettias

Mexico City at Christmas, decorated with vibrant poinsettias. People who even vaguely understand the origins of poinsettias may tell you that they are native to Mexico. There, they have a lengthy history. Aztecs used the milky sap for medicinal purposes and used the plants into crimson dye. As soon as Europeans brought Christianity to America, poinsettias became instantly connected with Christmas.

 

Also see :- Peach Belli Recipe

 

A story from legend describes Pepita, a young, impoverished Mexican girl, who wanted to deliver a gift to the infant Jesus during the Christmas service. Pedro, her cousin, gave her encouragement, noting that “loveful gifts, even small ones, make Jesus happy.” She took some flowering weeds from the side of the road and placed them at the altar because she had nothing else to offer. They changed into dazzling red blossoms in a matter of moments—definitely a miracle.

 

From the World to Mexico

Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first Mexican ambassador, was appointed in 1825. He sent cuttings of poinsettias home to South Carolina since he was so enamoured with them. Every year, he would send them to friends and relatives from there.

Prominent botanist John Bartram was one of these pals, and it was he who sold them at the Philadelphia Flower Show and made them known to the rest of the globe. Poinsettias have come to represent Christmas worldwide over time.

 

Little Blossoms and Vibrant Leaves

Poinsettias’ red “flowers” aren’t really flowers at all. The plant’s little yellow blossoms are hidden in the middle of each leaf cluster. The bracts are the colourful leaves. The leaves are green at first and get bigger during the majority of the year.

When the plant receives at least 12 hours of total darkness per day, they start to turn crimson. The tiny blooms may not be recognised by pollinators if they are not attracted to them by coloured bracts.

 

Poinsettia Flowers Are Loved by Butterflies

In relation to pollinators, poinsettia flowers are a favourite among butterflies. To attract butterflies to your garden, put your poinsettias outside if you reside in a warmer climate with no frosts or freezes.

 

No, Poinsettias Are Not Toxic

Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not especially toxic. Despite the sap’s slight toxicity and potential for stomach upset, poinsettia consumption has not been linked to any human or animal fatalities. According to studies, a 50-pound youngster would actually need to consume 500 leaves before they would be seriously harmed. It seems doubtful that a youngster or cat would take more than one bite of poinsettia due to its strong bitterness.

 

 

Author

  • JASMINE GOMEZ

    Jasmine Gomez is the Wishes Editor at Birthday Stock, where she cover the best wishes, quotes across family, friends and more. When she's not writing for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Who we are and how we work. We currently have seven trained editors working in our office to produce top-notch content that you can rely on. All articles are published according to the four-eyes principle: After completion of the raw version, the texts are checked by (at least) one other editor for orthographic and content accuracy.

    View all posts

Spread the love

Leave a Comment