Syngenta
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA pulcherrima 'Fismillerl'(EARLY ORION RED) PP16536
Plant Common Name
Early Orion Red Poinsettia, Poinsettia
General Description
The poinsettia Early Orion Red bears showy red flower bracts from late autumn into winter on bushy compact plants. This early-blooming sport of the cultivar Orion Red was selected by German breeder Hubert Sumser in 1999. Like all modern selections of Euphorbia pulcherrima, it was developed to meet the massive holiday demand for greenhouse-produced poinsettias. These selections grow from unrooted cuttings to bushy, leafy, heavily blooming potted plants in a matter of months. In contrast, their wild ancestors in western Mexico are leggy, medium-sized deciduous shrubs that often shed their leaves before blooming. Plant characteristics cited below are for first-year greenhouse-grown plants. Older plants attain much greater size.
All poinsettias have upright woody stems with large, thin leaves and milky sap. As nights lengthen, showy whorls of large, colorful bracts develop at the stem tips around clusters of inconspicuous yellow flowers. Early Orion Red bears pointed, oval, dark-green leaves and bright-red bracts on well-branched, 14-inch (35-cm) plants. The bracts begin to color about a week earlier than those of Orion Red. Plants hold their leaves into late winter if grown in favorable conditions.
Poinsettias require full to partial sun and average to fertile well-drained soil. Purchased poinsettias can be moved to a sunny window or a frost-free garden niche after they bloom.
These tender ornamentals can be reluctant to rebloom because flowering is triggered by long nights. The best method is to site plants in natural daylight, where they will experience shortening days. Professional growers shade their plants at night starting around the autumnal equinox to ensure full bract coloration 6 to 8 weeks later.
Poinsettia is sometimes the subject of health concerns. See http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Euphopu.htm
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 10
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
12"-16" / 30.5cm - 40.6cm
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Width
12"-16" / 30.5cm - 40.6cm
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Bloom Time
Late Fall, Early Winter
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Native To
Mexico
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Bark Color
Green, Tan
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No
