Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): The Classic Christmas Flower

Euphorbia pulcherrima, the Poinsettia or Flor de Nochebuena, is the quintessential holiday plant, famous for its colorful bracts (modified leaves) that surround tiny, yellow true flowers. While red is classic, cultivars offer pink, white, marble, and speckled colors.

Botanical Profile

Care & Reblooming

Native to Mexico, this winter-blooming shrub grows 2–10 feet tall in its habitat but is sold as a compact, forced pot plant. The showy bracts are triggered by short days (long nights) in autumn. For reblooming: after holidays, keep in bright light, water when dry. In spring, cut back to 6–8 inches, repot. Summer outdoors in part shade. From October 1, provide 14 hours of total darkness nightly for 8–10 weeks. Bracts color by December.

The milky sap can irritate skin; keep away from pets. A symbol of holiday cheer, modern breeding has produced longer-lasting, more compact varieties. With proper care, it can be a perennial houseplant.