I received the most beautiful Poinsettia plant from a client and I just had to photograph it. It is huge . . . about 3 feet across the top.
I came across some information about the Poinsettia plant on a University of Illinois Extension website.
The Poinsettia plant was introduced to the United States by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US Ambassador to Mexico, in 1828. He sent cutting of the plant he had discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, SC. Because it is named after a person, the word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized. December 12th is Poinsettia day (hey, that’s today), which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett. Coincidentally, the Poinsettia is displayed in celebration of the “Dia da la Virgen”, which is also on December 12th.
And contrary to popular belief, Poinsettias are not poisonous. A Ohio State University study determined that a 50-pound child would have to consume 500-600 leaves to have any side effects. Plus, the leaves are very bitter so it is unlike that a child (or any sane pet) would eat very many leaves.
Poinsettia are native to Mexico and are found in the wild in deciduous tropical forests at moderate elevations.
Poinsettia are the best-selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada and are the most popular Christmas plant.
Happy Poinsettia Day
Maralee
Through My Lens 
How interesting… love the post.. a learning curve for me.. thank you.. I do love the plant and have had a few in our house, which we removed when the Grandkids came to visit as we were under the impression they were poisonous… thanks for the enlightenment…
Until I read up about it, I thought it was poisonous too. I was happy to find out differently.
Very cool pistons/stamens ( is that correct?) and until this very moment, I thought they were poisonous. Thanks for the correct information. I love them. Always makes it feel like the holidays. 🙂
I had always thought it was poisonous too. I looked it up because I have pets that are into everything and I didn’t want to bring the plant home with me if it was going to kill them. I’m glad to find out they aren’t poisonous.
Such interesting information, and beautiful pictures too!
Thank you, Renee. I learned some new things while reading about it.
Lovely blog post! Love how you sometimes you share something about the subject you photograph. I have purchased Poinsettia’s annually for my mother in law over the years and I cannot recall hearing that that they are Poisonous! In the end I guess I had nothing to worry about :-). What a nice gift from your client.
Thank you so much. I’d always heard they were poisonous to animals so I didn’t want to bring it home until I know for sure . . . that’s why I did my research. I haven’t tasted the leaves to check and see if they’re as bitter as they say. I’ll leave that for someone else. 🙂
That’s our Christmas green plant … the most popular one. Everybody things the red leafs are the flower, but it’s not – your last photo is of the flowers. They grow wild in Spain too, Canary Island.
A stunning plant – but I have never managed to handle it – have bought 100rds through the years and never succeed with them. When I watered them .. they have died .. If I didn’t water them they died.
My pick is the second last photo … its stunning .. the flower is like velvet. Can I use that photo for on my blog over Christmas ????
Of course you can you that photo for your blog. I would be honored. I’m going to try keep this plant going and see if I can regrow it next year. I don’t have much luck with plants so this will be a real test for me.
Thanks a million, Maralee. Wonderful photos. Will add the photo as my seasonal photo.
What a magnificent plant you got there. I adore them, but they will not survive in my care.
Wish you good luck with it. Keep me posted how it’s getting on with you.
By the way my today post is about your … heritage.