About Poinsettia Day
A day to enjoy poinsettias as they are a staple feature in many households in the run-up to Christmas. The date honors Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the American diplomat who introduced the plant into the US. Poinsett served as a member of Congress and as secretary of war. He died near Statesburg, SC, December 12th, 1851.
First popularized as houseplants in the mid-twentieth century, poinsettias actually native to Mexico and Central America. They typically bloom in December, which made them a natural to become a Christmas plant and have become the traditional flower for December.
Because of its association with Christmas, Poinsetta is sometimes the flor de la Nochebuena or the flower of the Holy Night.
