Contact: Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture
Posted November 1997
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulchenima) are native to southern Mexico and Guatemala where they grow as a large shrub or small tree. They first were brought to the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett (hence the common name) who was our first ambassador to Mexico. In the early 20th century, the Ecke family of southern California became associated with the outdoor production of poinsettias for use as a landscape planic (in frost-free areas) and as a cut flower.
Since that time, the Ecke name has become synonymous with poinsettias in the greenhouse industry. Almost all plant royalties for poinsettia cultivars (varieities) are paid to the Ecke family and, chances are, your poinsettia spent time (either as a cutting or the stock plant from which the cutting was taken) at the Ecke Poinsettia Ranch in Encinitas just north of San Diego).
If you want to astound the person from whom you buy poinsettias, ask whether the cultivar you are buying is `V-14 Glory', `Celebrate', `Supjibi' ("sue-jee-bee" or "soup--jee-bee"), one of the `Heggs', or the new `Freedom'. There are others, but these are the most commonly grown red cultivars in Virginia.
The colorful part of a poinsettia plant is the inflorescence which is made up of bracts and cyathia. The bracts are the colored (red, white, pink, or bicolor), leaf-like appendages at the top of the plant. They are, in a taxonomic sense, modified leaves. In the middle of the inflorescence are cyathia that look like small, green balls or cups. Inside each cyathium are the true flowers. You are likely to see yellow, pollen-bearing flowers extending out of a cyathium. On the side of a cyathium, you may see small, nectar-holding structures called nectaries that attract pollinators. Some of the upper leaves also may be the same color as the bracts. These leaves are called transitional leaves.
Finally, please be sure to note and tell your friends that poinsettias are not poisonous. Extensive laboratory testing and university research have concluded that poinsettias are not poisonous. However, this does not imply that they are edible. In addition, some people develop a dermal reaction (skin rash) if exposed to the white, milky sap of poinsettias. This substance is called latex and is made by the plant in special cells called laticifers.
(Originally published as "A Brief History of Poinsettias...Trivia to astound your friends," by Kevin L. Grueber, Instructor, Agriculture Technology Program and Department of Horticulture, in The Virginia Gardener Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 12.)