Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Botanical Name
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Plant Common Name
Mexican Flame-leaf, Poinsettia
General Description
Poinsettia, the popular Christmas plant, has a surprising identity. Most don’t realize it is a medium-sized deciduous shrub native to western Mexico. In fact, Mexican flame-leaf is another of its common names. When grown in its natural environment, this leggy tender shrub is a far cry from the neat, bushy greenhouse-grown potted plants we purchase during the winter holidays.
All poinsettias have upright woody stems lined with large, thin, deep green leaves with irregular, pointed edges. Sticky milky sap oozes from broken stems and leaf veins if damaged. The plant is most admired for its huge red petal-like bracts that surround small inconspicuous clusters of flowers. The flowers develop in late fall and winter in response to short days and long nights. In the wild this deciduous shrub is usually leafless when in bloom. Only pampered greenhouse specimens are in full leaf in the dead of winter. Many cultivars are available in red, pink, white or yellow. Bi-colored and double (extra bracts) forms are also available.
Poinsettia requires full to partial sun and average to fertile well-drained soil that is moist in the heat of the growing season. In the cooler parts of its hardiness range, where frosts may occur, it should be grown in a sheltered site. Where tender, poinsettia can be grown as a houseplant in a sunny window or conservatory.
It can be challenging to get this tender ornamental to re-bloom because flowering is triggered by short days and long nights. The best method is to provide it with ample and consistent natural daylight, which will allow its natural blooming cycle to take place. Professional growers shade their plants at night starting around the autumnal equinox to ensure fully bract coloration six to eight 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
1'-15' / 0.3m - 4.6m (8)
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Width
2'-8' / 0.6m - 2.4m (6)
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Bloom Time
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter
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Native To
Mexico
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Pink
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
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)
Green, 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
