National Poinsettia Day is celebrated every year on December 12th, honoring the vibrant red and green plant that has become the defining symbol of the Christmas season across North America.
History of National Poinsettia Day
The poinsettia takes its name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist and physician who served as the first U.S. Minister to Mexico in the 1820s. During his time there, Poinsett became fascinated by a vibrant Mexican shrub known locally as “Flor de Nochebuena,” or Flower of the Holy Night. In 1828, he sent cuttings of the plant back to his home in Charleston, South Carolina, and to botanists in Philadelphia, effectively introducing the species to the United States.
While Poinsett brought the plant north, it was the Ecke family of California, particularly Paul Ecke and later Paul Ecke Jr., who transformed the poinsettia into a major commercial industry throughout the 20th century, developing techniques that made the plant bushier and more visually appealing for holiday sales. In 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives officially created National Poinsettia Day, choosing December 12th to mark the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett’s death in 1851, honoring both his contribution and the broader poinsettia industry Paul Ecke helped build.
In Mexico, the plant carries a beloved legend: a poor girl with nothing to offer at a Christmas nativity gathered simple weeds from the roadside, which miraculously bloomed into brilliant red star-shaped flowers, becoming known as the flower of the holy night.
How to Celebrate National Poinsettia Day
- Purchase a poinsettia from a local florist or greenhouse
- Gift a poinsettia to a neighbor, coworker, or friend
- Learn proper care tips to help your poinsettia last through the holiday season
- Decorate your home with poinsettias as part of your holiday decor
- Share the Mexican legend behind the “flower of the holy night” with others
Fun Facts About Poinsettias
- The poinsettia’s botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means “very beautiful.”
- Early American botanists initially considered the poinsettia a weed before it became a prized holiday plant.
- Poinsettias are the best-selling potted flowering plant in the United States, despite having a sales window of only about six weeks.
- What appear to be the plant’s red “petals” are actually specialized leaves called bracts, not true flowers.
- The Aztecs used the poinsettia’s sap to help control fevers and its red bracts to make dye.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Poinsettia Day?
National Poinsettia Day is celebrated annually on December 12th.
Why is December 12th the date for Poinsettia Day?
The date marks the anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett’s death in 1851. Poinsett was the American diplomat and botanist who introduced the plant to the United States.
Are the red parts of a poinsettia actual flowers?
No, the vibrant red portions are actually specialized leaves called bracts. The plant’s true flowers are the small, often yellow clusters found at the center of the bracts.