History of the Poinsettia

Submitted by 2 Wild Poppies 

Christmas is in the air in our little town. Storefronts are twinkling, gifts are on display and Choraliers fill the air with the songs of Christmas. Also on display are bright red poinsettias everywhere you turn.

Poinsettias are the hallmark flower of Christmas. In 1823 a botanist, and the first United States Minister to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, noticed the bright red shrub growing in Mexico and began shipping them to his home in South Carolina to study at his greenhouse. The poinsettia shrub is now trained to grow in pots and is the most popular potted “flower” on the market. December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, the anniversary of Poisett’s death.Credit is given for the popularity of the plant by father son team, Paul Ecke Sr and Jr. Their ranch in Encinita, California is the largest producer of poinsettias in the United States. Paul Ecke Jr. revolutionized how poinsettias were marketed and sold by giving away free poinsettias to talk shows, which were featured on air, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Poinsettias are popular at Christmas for two reasons: being heavily advertised on television and because of the Mexican legend about its origin. Legend has it that a little girl named Pepita wanted to see the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve but she was poor and had no gifts to bring. She was sad but her cousin, Pedro, told her Jesus would be happy with any present given with love. As she walked along the roadside, Pepita gathered weeds and created a bouquet. Although she was embarrassed, when she walked through the nativity scene, she remembered what her cousin had told her. As she placed the bouquet down, the weeds turned into beautiful red poinsettias. Everyone watching was convinced they had seen a miracle. From that day forward, poinsettias have been called “Flores de la Noche Buena” or “Flower of the Holy Night”.