Poinsettia Red

With red, pink or cream coloured bracts, the poinsettia is simply part of the pre-Christmas season. Our poinsettias (30cm high and 20cm in diameter) are definitely eye-catchers as well. 

Origin

The poinsettia goes by the botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima and is also known by the German names Adventsstern, Christstern or Poinsettie. It is a spurge species and belongs to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). In our country, the poinsettia is usually kept as an annual houseplant, although in its original form it is neither a pot plant nor an annual. The poinsettia is actually a perennial evergreen shrub from South America. The star-shaped leaves of the plant already enchanted the botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow, who gave it the botanical species name Euphorbia pulcherrima - "the most beautiful of the spurges".

It is only since the 1950s that the poinsettia has been known as an indoor plant in this country. Since then, its popularity has grown and, despite its seasonality, the poinsettia is now one of the best-selling houseplants in the world. Especially during the Advent season, garden centres offer a wide selection of plants.
 

Attention pets: Poinsettias are poisonous!

As with other spurge species, the milky sap of the poinsettia contains mild skin irritants. After consumption, small pets such as cats, rabbits, birds or hamsters may experience symptoms of poisoning. Bear this in mind when purchasing and placing the plant indoors and wear gloves when repotting and pruning your poinsettia so that you do not come into unnecessary contact with the milky sap. In principle, skin contact is harmless, but the milky sap of the plants can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.