12 December is the day to mark in your calendars!
Silver surfers, yummy mummies, nifty crafters and rainbow warriors can unite around this charming festive traditions in the run up to Christmas. 12 December marks National Poinsettia Day, when the world’s most popular winter bloom is looking its beautiful best and heralding the approach of Christmas for people of all ages, cultures and traditions.
Coveted for centuries in their native Mexico and Guatemala, poinsettia’s have a very long association with Christmas tradition, which has seen them blossom into a modern-day classic. Painstaking breeding methods have produced a multitude of varieties and breathtaking array of colours.
Alongside the traditional velvety red (still the most popular colour for poinsettias), we can now choose from sensational Barbie-tastic pink, soft salmon and apricot hues, delicate yellow, creamy white and beautiful variegated leaves to suit any style of interior décor.
Whether it’s mid-century style, cottagecore romance, understated forestcore, cosy Scandi chic or clean, contemporary elegance, poinsettias can enhance festive décor like no other plant. With such a broad colour palette now available, versatile poinsettias not only bring the warmth and comfort of established tradition, but can now deliver an eclectic modern twist to any home setting.
The availability of sizes that range from cute miniatures – ideal for decorating Christmas trees, wreaths and table settings – to showstopping centrepiece plants – makes them even more versatile. Whether it’s an urban jungle you’re trying to achieve, boho chic style or a clean and airy contemporary vibe, poinsettias can help you achieve the look.
The long and short of it is, there’s a poinsettia for everyone, to suit any space!
A bit of history
Originally found in the Taxco area of Southern Mexico which borders Guatemala, poinsettias were once used by Aztecs for medicine and dye. They grow there to this day as wild shrubs. The association with Christmas came via Spanish missionaries to the Americas, who noted that their blood-coloured bracts were at their best during Advent season, earning them the epithet, ‘Flowers of the Holy Night’, a floral gift for the baby Jesus.
The forthcoming special date commemorates US ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who helped make poinsettias the world’s favourite festive plant before he died on 12th December 1851. It was Poinsett who brought the decorative plant back to the USA and in 1852 the US Congress declared the anniversary of his death to be “Poinsettia Day”.
Over time, the tradition of giving a poinsettia as a gift to a loved one on 12th December becamemestablished in the USA. This tradition has since become a staple ingredient of winter festivities in the UK and mainland Europe. Whether it’s as a token of affection, dinner party gift or a pretty self-purchase with the feelgood factor, a poinsettia is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas without breaking the bank.
Buying poinsettias also enables us to support valued local horticultural businesses, garden centres and florists outside the spring season when they typically sell the most plants.
Caring for poinsettias
These exotic plants are also easier to keep alive than is generally assumed, providing they’re given the proper care. This includes keeping them at an optimum temperature of 15-22 degrees in soft filtered light, protection from cold draughts, light watering and regular misting in dry environments.
Lechuza self-watering planters and PON mineral substrate provide the ideal growing conditions for poinsettias, which don’t like to be over-watered and nor do they like being left to dry out! With Lechuza’s expert system your poinsettia will have all it needs to thrive well beyond Epiphany, into Spring 2026 and beyond.
IMAGE CREDITS: All images except the last two should be credited to Stars for Europe UK. The last two images feature LECHUZA self-watering planters, CUBE and DELTINI.
