Apparently, it is National Poinsettia Day in the United States. I don’t have a poinsettia this year, although I love them. It’s been so cold here that transporting one from the garden centre to home might completely do it in before I even had a chance to enjoy it. Arctic air masses that lounge around for days and days on end are not fun for anyone, and especially not if you’re from the tropics, as this plant is. Which is also perhaps why it is not National Poinsettia Day here in Canada – we’ve established that temperatures in the minus mid-to-high twenties (that’s Celsius!) are not ideal for such a celebration. Really, for any celebration. Except one involving hot chocolate and Irish cream and a warm fireplace.
Even if we don’t have a special day to honour poinsettias here in the frozen north, I can still share a fascinating bit of information: did you know that the dense, multi-branching habit and stunted growth of our holiday poinsettias results from infection by a type of pathogen? This article has more information about how it works.* And here is another for further perusal. Enjoy the reads – I’m off to petition the government to make National Hot Chocolate and Irish Cream and Warm Fireplace Day a reality.
Are poinsettias part of your holiday celebrations? What colour is your favourite? And have you ever seen a poinsettia in tree form? (I haven’t).
*UPDATED: I managed to track down a photo of a “wild” poinsettia, as the photo in the first link isn’t accurate – take a look here.
Flowery Prose 
Happy chocolate and Irish Cream Day! I like them too (up till Jan 1st) but don’t have mine yet either. I followed that link but I don’t think their pic of a tree poinsettia is that at all but a Poinciana (Delonix regia). I admit that I like all the fancy colours of poinsettia but when I buy a pink or white one I always rush out to buy a red one as well – the red ones are Christmas really.
I agree – the reds are my favourites as well. Thanks so much for the ID on that photo on the link – now I’m REALLY curious about poinsettias in tree form…I wonder if anyone can track down a photo of the real thing? I will have to do some digging as well, when I have a bit more time. Enjoy your day!
I have pics of them growing in the Canary Islands – I will see if I can search one out!
That would be fantastic if you are able to do so!
mm – have got a pic but can’t insert it into a reply.
I have put the pic in tomorrow’s post which is about short-day plants including poinsettias so if you take a look after 14th December you can see it.
I just went over for a visit – what a great post! Here’s a link in case anyone else wants to see your wonderful photos: https://thebikinggardener.com/2016/12/14/a-z-of-botany-short-day-plants/.
Clicked on the link. Holy guacamole! Those are some poinsettias! Even though it’s too cold for tropical plants, I hope you enjoy the hot cocoa, Irish cream, and cozy fires.
Amazing plants, for sure! Hope your Christmas is a merry one!
I think Hot Chocolate and Irish Cream Day sounds like a wonderful idea! Yes, I have just a small red Poinsettia this year. But a friend bought a white one which was really pretty too. 🙂
Lovely! They really do add something special to the holidays…Merry Christmas to you!
And to you Sheryl!
I love to see poinsettia’s but don’t buy them anymore. No room and no good light. Kept one alive in my apartment for 2 seasons a couple of years ago. Even bought some fake plants but they got lost in all the moves. I’ve learned something new about them today. Thank you for sharing that tidbit. I do not envy you the cold you have there. Just hoping my heat pump can keep up with what we have been having and expect to get which is nothing like you have. Mostly ice and freezing rain.
Hope the freezing rain and ice has let up there…we’re in the middle of a “snowfall warning” here right now and it’s coming down pretty good. Wishing you a delightful Christmas!
They are be
They are beautiful and a lot of person buy them for Christmas
They are very festive! Wishing you the very best of the season!
As my moms´s birthday is end of November, she always gets Christmas stars, as we call this plant in German. I like the red ones, without glitter and other stuff. On Tenerife (Canary Island) I have seen big plants on many places.
“Christmas stars” sounds perfectly apt, I like that name very much. I don’t much care for the glitter, either – it gets everywhere! Happy holidays to you!
Frohe Weihnachten – Happy holidays to you!
We do have one red poinsettia in the house.
They really brighten things up at this time of year! Wishing you all the best of the season!
That’s fascinating! I’ve had them in the past, but none this year.
This was the first year I haven’t had any, either. I do like the colour they bring into the house, and sort of miss them. Next year, for sure…. Hope your Christmas is wonderful!
Sheryl, Merry Christmas to you, too. Sometimes missing something is good. It helps to know what’s important and what you can just let go. Next year…
Thanks for the link – another thing I never knew I never knew! I have had poinsettias in the past but not for ages.
I thought it was pretty interesting! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank-you Sheryl! Merry Christmas to you too!