Holiday decorations would not be complete without a least one pointsettia plant, the much beloved symbol of Christmas. Well known for their large, bright leaves, poinsettias are the best selling flowering plant in the U.S.,
Poinsettias were brought to the U.S. from Mexico in the 1820's by the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett. Although red is the most popular color, there are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available today. Colors range from bright red to pink, mauve, white and variagated.
Poinsettias are not poisonous, contrary to an old wives tale that has been circulating for decades. Numerous studies have been conducted and all have disproved this.
For more information, please visit http://http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/history.html
