Poinsettias Add Color to Your Holiday Decor and are Nationally Recognized on Dec. 12
While red is the perennial favorite, poinsettias come in an abundance of colors and they are grown in Michigan.
Wednesday, Dec. 12, is National Poinsettia Day. Joel Roberts Poinsett discovered the plant in southern Mexico and introduced it to his hometown of Charleston, S.C., in 1828. Poinsett, a physician, botanist and the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico died on this date (Dec. 12) in 1851. For additional historical facts visit the University of Illinois Extension, the Poinsettia Pages. The plant, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a member of the Euphorbiaceaeor Spurge family. Once considered a weed, in nature poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow up to 10 feet tall in temperate coastal climates. In Michigan, the plant is enjoyed as a potted indoor plant that requires water; bright, but indirect sunlight; and 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit …
