Euphorbia pulcherrima
Poinsettias are traditional Christmas plants that will last through the Christmas season and beyond. With their varying shades of cheery colors, poinsettias are the bestselling potted plant in the United States and Canada. If taken care of properly, their bright displays can last for several weeks.
The poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a member of the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. This colorful plant was discovered near the present-day city of Taxco, Mexico and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca (in southern Mexico). While we know the plant as an indoor plant, in Mexico poinsettias grow to be large woody shrubs, often reaching 10 feet tall.
The poinsettia we see today comes from many years of breeding and engineering. During the mid-1950’s plant breeding research began and has led to many the current improved varieties and cultivars. Today’s poinsettia is a free-branching hybrid plant with larger, longer lasting bracts. Hybridizing has resulted in more than 100 varieties including white, cream, yellow, peach, pink, purple, and marbled. Red poinsettias still account for more than 70% of sales.