Decorate for the holidays with beautiful Poinsettias
Poinsettias are a Christmas tradition that can bring joy and color to any home during the holiday season. The feeling of warmth, inside and out, is a great feeling. It’s equally as good when it spreads to others. Being around these flowers can entice thoughts of joy and Christmas cheer.
When you are decorating – either for the holidays in general or for a special meal – look to 1-800-Flowers for all of your poinsettia needs. You’ll be able to find the right size, look, and quantity to meet all of your decorating needs.
Christmas flowers are a tradition that goes way back, and poinsettias now come in many colors and shapes and sizes. The difficulty will be, which one do I choose? Why not several kinds and use them plentifully and throughout your house for that holiday color.
Did you know that the Aztecs called poinsettias “Cuetlaxochitl.” During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye. Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude.
In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, noted the poinsettia plant in his writings. The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse, as if desperate to be noticed. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning “very beautiful.” The most accidental of discoveries can be the most significant, or unexpectedly inspiring.
Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President John Quincy Adams in the 1820’s. At the time of his appointment, Mexico was involved in a civil war. Because of his interest in botany he introduced the American elm into Mexico. During his stay in Mexico he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina.
Even though Poinsett had an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and as an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the poinsettia into the United States. William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, was asked to give Euphorbia pulcherrima a new name as it became more popular. At that time Mr. Prescott had just published a book called the ‘Conquest of Mexico’ in which he detailed Joel Poinsett’s discovery of the plant. Prescott named the plant the poinsettia in honor of Joel Poinsett’s discovery.
In the early 1900’s the Ecke family of southern California grew poinsettias outdoors for use as landscape plants and as a cut flower. Eventually the family grew poinsettias in greenhouses and today is recognized as the leading producer of poinsettias in the United States. Check out all of the amazing varieties at 1-800-Flowers, and get your own piece of colorful history for your Christmas Flower decorating needs.
Why not order a dozen or more plants? Lining a staircase they would look stunning, especially if you have wooden floors. Try all red, or the variegated variety. If you are in a mild climate, they can be planted outside although below freezing temps would kill them. They will bloom year after year.
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