Poinsettia's botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means "the most beautiful Euphorbia". Poinsettia in Mexico. They have a long history dating back to the Aztecs in the 14th through 16th centuries in southern Mexico. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. These days, poinsettia production is a $25 million industry, a staggering number for a plant that’s only sold six weeks out of the year. Did You Know? And tinted in your favorite pastel color, and perhaps with a touch of glitter, the popular potted plant is suitable for weddings or as a centerpiece for anniversaries, birthdays, showers, and other occasions. A poinsettia can say a lot to someone during the holiday season or add much to your Christmas decor if you keep one in your own home. Its name signified "Flower that withers, mortal flower that perishes like all that is pure". Poinsettias. It is native to Mexico and Central America. Celebrate your uniquely American horticultural heritage Harvest Your History Seed Your Future. What is Poinsettia? The rest is history. California remains the top U.S. poinsettia-producing state. Legend of the Poinsettia The Aztecs were the first to cultivate poinsettias and used them for red dye and as a medicine for fevers. Poinsettias went from near obscurity to a $140 million annual market in the U.S., based on a 2015 analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the latest available. A Little History The poinsettia plant was first brought to America by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who served as our country’s first Ambassador to Mexico. They got a purple dye from poinsettia’s bracts and used it in beauty products and materials. Long before the arrival of Europeans, the Aztecs of Central Mexico cultivated the plant and called it Cuetlaxochitle. The plant thrived in the Southern part of Mexico. Diplomat to Mexico. origin . Where was this Christmas plant discovered? How the Poinsettia Became the Official Plant of Christmas. What we call the Poinsettia is native to Mexico and was called Cuetlaxochitl by the Aztecs. The poinsettia is native to Central America and typically grows from Mexico to Guatemala. Nick Federoff Americas natural master gardener, tells us the history of the beautiful Poinsettia plant. Learn about the history of the Los Angeles Flower District here, or get to know the bad boy of botany Nicholas Culpeper. Though many Christmas plants and flowers are associated with the American Christmas holiday, the beloved Poinsettia has some deep historical roots that might surprise you. They would extract a purplish dye from the plant for coloring textiles and even cosmetics. by Anne December 10, 2020, 7:19 pm 169 Views Anne December 10, 2020, 7:19 pm 169 Views History of the Poinsettia 314 words / $9.42. Buy this article today to see the rest and be the exclusive owner! Are poinsettias poisonous? Today, Poinsettias are not only the most popular Christmas plant, but the best-selling potted plant in the United States and Canada, contributing over $250 million to the U.S. economy at the retail level. Sprayed green, it makes the Irish smile on St. Patrick's Day. May your holiday be safe, healthy and filled with love. Make Christmas extra special this year by sharing a fine poinsettia with your loved ones. Learn a few facts about this traditional Christmas plant. HISTORY OF THE POINSETTIA. Poinsettia History: Learn About the Christmas Plant! Patrick McMillan talks with Jim Faust regarding his extensive collection of poinsettia varieties at Clemson University. The poinsettia has now been bred to include versions with pink, white, and blue leaves. Its name signified "Flower that withers, mortal flower that perishes like all that is pure". The vibrant plants are native to the rocky canyons of Guatemala and Mexico. He was a botanist and brought a cutting back to the U.S. Later in the 20th century, the Ecke Farm of California was responsible for mass-producing the plant and introducing it as the Christmas Tradition it has become. History Of The Poinsettia Plant – Why Is Poinsettia A Christmas Plant. Nochebuena, the Mexican name of the flower English-speakers call poinsettia, was discovered in Taxco and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca.Known by the Aztecs in their native Nahuatl language as cuetlaxochitl, it is believed that they brought the plant from the tropical climate of Cuernavaca to their Aztec highlands for cultivation in special nurseries. Legend of the Poinsettia – Below is a legend of how we get the Poinsettia, why we have it around Christmas, why it is a winter plant and what it has to do with Christmas and why churches use them during Christmas. Sample Like what you see? It’s most often found planted neatly in pots and displayed proudly on desks or in office corners. It is believed to have been used as a Christmas decoration as early as the 17th century when Franciscan monks near Taxco, Mexico incorporated the plant in their Nativity processions. Poinsett, who was a physician and a botanist, found the plant in 1828 and was so taken by it that he sent cuttings back to his home in South Carolina. A poinsettia in hues of blue, coupled with red and white flowers, becomes the star of a patriotic arrangement. History You won’t find any reference to the poinsettia in any of the ancient herbal texts because it was unknown to the western world until the 1800s. The Poinsettia remains the most beloved American Christmas flower of all time. It was named for Joel R. Poinsett, who popularized the plant and introduced it to floriculture while he was U.S. minister to Mexico in the late 1820s. FREE SHIPPING on orders $50 and above The story behind poinsettias is rich in history and lore. Though it is thought to have become known by its more popular name of poinsettia around 1836, the . During college, I studied one summer in Cuernavaca, a little town about an hour and a half south of Mexico City.Nochebuena, the Mexican name of the flower English-speakers call poinsettia, was discovered in Taxco and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca. Many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family ooze a milky sap. Dec 9, 2016 - Where does the poinsettia come from? The poinsettia has a history with the American public. Merry Christmas Dear Friends . Early Poinsettia Flower History. They’re plants. Like many of our common plants, the poinsettia is largely an invention of the 20th Century. The cuetlaxochitl was cultivated as a gift from the gods and Montezuma (1480 - 1520, last of the Aztec Kings) adorned his palaces with the plant. https://harvesting-history.com. The plant we all recognize today as the Poinsettia has a long, foreign and interesting history. Records of the plant’s introduction to the United States are somewhat spotty, but we do know that the poinsettia was first brought to the country by a US diplomat. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day. READ: This App Can Tell You The Indigenous History Of The Land You Live On Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae or Spurge family. Poinsettia Day History. History of the Poinsettia The poinsettia is a native plant of Mexico and originated in a rather limited region near present day Taxco. Plus free printable version! Poinsettia plants are native to Central America. The poinsettia first came to the United States in 1825 by way of Joel Poinsett, who at the time was the U.S. Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Smithsonian Videos The History of the Poinsettia What we call the Poinsettia is native to Mexico and was called Cuetlaxochitl by the Aztecs. In the 1830’s, the future Christmas plant’s popularity spread throughout America. Poinsett had some greenhouses on his plantations in South Carolina, and while visiting the Taxco area in 1828, he became very interested in the plants. History shows the Aztecs used poinsettias for both decorative and practical purposes. Cultivated varieties are available with white, pink, mottled, and striped bracts, though the solid red varieties remain in greatest demand during the Christmas season. No flower says Christmas like the beautiful poinsettia. Learn more! Somehow, like with many other miscellaneous objects, Christmas has adopted the poinsettia as its own. Plus it tells you other names used as well for this special Holy Flower. It definitely deserves its place as one of the best flowers for Christmas. – Nochebuena / Poinsettia. The poinsettia was made widely known because of a man called Joel Roberts Poinsett (that's why we call them Poinsettia!). The plant originated in Mexico, but has spread across the world and is offered in 100 different varieties. THE HISTORY OF THE POINSETTIA . The poinsettia is a well-known member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), commonly sold as an ornamental at Christmas time. Because of its brilliant color, the poinsettia was a symbol of purity to the Indians. The poinsettia farming empire in Southern California which, at one point, controlled 90% of the market. of the name is certainly clear! Native to what is now Mexico, the Aztecs utilized the plant they called cuetlaxochitle to reduce fever and stimulate lactation. Its history, particularly how it ended up in the United States and linked with Christmas, is interesting doubtlessly. The native people, Aztecs used this plant a lot. Poinsettias were cultivated by the Mayans and Aztecs, who valued the red bracts as a colorful, reddish-purple fabric dye, and the sap for its many medicinal qualities. 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