Poinsettia Flowers – Heralds of Christmas

It is enough to see a Poinsettia flower blooming to know that the Christmas Season is  upon us.  These wonderful flowers are the best heralds for the arrival of Christmas.

This plant is a native of Mexico, in specific, of the region of Taxco and Cuernavaca in the State of Morelos.  It is known as the Flower of Christmas Eve.

The Aztecs call it Cuetlaxochitl and believed it had healing powers and its pigment was used to dye cotton fibers.

Franciscan priests who were established in Taxco decorated their Christian scenes with these lovely flowers.  Hernando Ruiz de Alarcon, resident of Taxco and brother of the famous writer Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, wrote poetically about this flower thus making it known abroad.  But, it was Joel Robert Poinsettia (1770-1851)who was its most important promoter.  Ambassador of the United States to Mexico after the Independence War, he sent these plants to decorate his home in Charlestonville, South Carolina and on his return years later he found everyone growing these plants.

Mr. Poinsettia made it a symbol of Mexican Christmas through the World and in his honor they gave his name to the flower known in Latin as Pulcherroma Poinsettia and in the United States simply as Poinsettia.

It´s name in Nahuatl, “Cuetlaxochitl” (flower that withers) is the most aprropriate as all gardeners and florists know, IT CANNOT BE CUT.  But, do not let this keep you from having several plants in your home as they are sold in pots and there is no cheaper or better Christmas decoration than the Poinsettia.