Poinsettia

Poinsettia is a perennial flowering shrub that in nature can grow to ten feet tall. Originally from Mexico they are now grown in and exported from the United States.

Poinsettia plants can be grown indoors. A Poinsettia plant or Poinsettia tree can grow to around 16 feet tall. With colorful bracts (modified leaves), that are often mistaken for flowers.

Poinsettia plant care includes keeping the roots well drained and pruning after the bracts drop. Bracts are often bright red, but can also be white. Red is most popular. Live poinsettia tree stands can be used as Christmas trees or decoration for the Christmas season. December 12th is national Poinsettia day. The Poinsettia tree is a native of Mexico rainforest but now can be grown anywhere in the world. There are over a hundred varieties of poinsettia available to the gardener.

The poinsettia plant can be used as a poinsettia tree stand or poinsettia tree racks when the bracts have fallen and the flowers have finished blooming. The bright red bracts are not the actual flowers and the reproductive cycle of the poinsettia plant revolves around the small yellow flowers rather than the flamboyant bracts.

Poinsettia plants are the most popular plant to buy around Christmas time. Women buy most plants and in the six week season there are many of the plants sold around the United States. Most of the poinsettia plants come from the Paul Ecke Farm in California.

Despite the milky sap that seeps from the poinsettia the plant is not toxic. It could cause some stomach upset in a child, but it is not poisonous as such.

The Poinsettia Christmas tree is a perfect decoration for the season. The bright red bracts are a great contrast to the dark green foliage. Care for poinsettia plants includes keeping the roots drained but watered and protecting the fragile branches from damage during storms.

Growing poinsettia plants is a rewarding hobby. They come in various varieties, the red is most popular but the white is also becoming more common. Silk poinsettia trees are also available for the gardener who cannot find the time or space to grow a real plant. The quality of the silk poinsettia trees is so good it is sometimes hard to tell without touching the leaves, to see if it is genuine or a copy.

From a perfect Christmas gift to a great addition to a garden or indoor setting a real or silk poinsettia is the way to go.