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The red, crimson, scarlet poinsettias
have a special day all for their own! The Poinsettia Day. By an Act of Congress,
December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death
of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who is credited with introducing the native Mexican
plant to the United States. The purpose of the day is to enjoy the beauty of
this popular holiday plant.
So, be sure to give someone you love a poinsettia on December 12, National Poinsettia
Day!
The plant we know today as the poinsettia
has a long and interesting history. The fact is, that lovely plant you place
in your home during the holidays was once used as a fever medicine! Poinsettias
are highly prized throughout Florida and widely beloved as a symbol of the Christmas
season.
Poinsettias are flowers native to the
Pacific coast of Mexico, some parts of central southern Mexico, and a few localities
in Guatemala. They are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States
ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant in the U.S. in 1825.
No other flower can make such a brilliant
show of bright red throughout the festive weeks of December and January. Alternative
names for the poinsettia are Euphorbia pulcherrima, Mexican flame leaf, Christmas
star, Winter rose, Noche Buena, Ataturk's Flower (in Turkey) and Pascua.
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