Saturday, December 04, 1999

Poinsettia says holiday in any color

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Several varieties of potted plant can capture Christmas spirit

BY TIM MOREHOUSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Traditional red poinsettia | ZOOM |

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        No potted plant can set the holiday mood faster than a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), often called the “Christmas plant.”

        Today you can select from a multitude of poinsettia colors and types: rose, pink, bright red, dark red, marbled pink and white, pure ivory, salmon, flecked red. There is a dark red poinsettia shaped like a rose with crinkled petals and foliage. Others have variegated foliage.

        The poinsettia was named for Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to the newly independent Republic of Mexico from 1825-1829. He was a botanist who introduced the American elm to Mexico as well as sending the poinsettia to America. In Mexico, he was an unpopular politician and Mexicans coined the term poinsetismo to describe intrusive and officious behavior.

        The color of the poinsettia comes not from its flowers (they are an insignificant yellow) but from its bracts. It was used in Mexico to decorate churches at Christmas time and called the “Nativity flower.'

        In its native country, the poinsettia can grow 16 feet tall, but our greenhouse specimens, commercially available for the holidays, are a manageable 2-3 feet in height and/or circumference.

        A.J. Rahn Greenhouses in Winton Place has a spectacular display of poinsettias this year. Susie Rahn lists some of her favorites:

        • “Freedom Rose” — a subtle rose-red with dark green foliage.

        • “Jungle Bells” — A variegated pink-red.

        • “Pink Peppermint” and “Cranberry Punch” — Variegated versions of traditional colors.

        • “Winter Rose” — a new poinsettia that produces a curled bract shaped like a red rose (flatter and larger) and dark green, curled foliage.

        • “Red Velvet” — One of the brightest reds I have seen with exceptionally large bracts.

        • “Maren” — a beautiful true salmon color.

        • “Silver Star” — Variegated foliage with cream-edged green leaves and dark red bracts.

        Bill Mattfeld of Mattfeld Florist and Greenhouses in Groesbeck adds some of his favorite poinsettias:

        • “Maureen” — A soft pink.

        • “Orion” — Deep red with dark green foliage. New this year.

        • “Freedom White” — Ivory white bracts with striking dark green foliage.

        Tips for caring for your potted poinsettias:

        • If your poinsettia has a pot cover or foil wrapper, pierce the bottom to allow proper drainage. Remember to place the plant on a waterproof container to catch the overflow when you water.

        ›The soil should be kept moist. Nevertheless, empty any water that drains into the container under your plant; if the plant sits in water, the leaves will turn yellow and drop.

        • The color of your poinsettia will last longer with temperatures not over 75 degrees during the day and not under 60-65 degrees at night.

        Tim Morehouse is on the Web at www.getmoregarden.com

       

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