The vibrant plant known globally as the Poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico. Poinsett served as the nation’s highest-ranking diplomat in Mexico from 1825 to 1829, but was also a passionate botanist. His botanical curiosity led him to encounter the striking red and green plant, which he introduced to the United States. The plant’s scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, but the common name “Poinsettia” was adopted in his honor. This act created a holiday icon that is now one of the most commercially valuable potted plants in North America.
The Man Behind the Name: Joel Roberts Poinsett
Joel Roberts Poinsett was a South Carolina native born in 1779, trained in medicine, law, and military affairs. Before his diplomatic posting, he traveled extensively, serving as a U.S. trade envoy and engaging in political observation. His experiences cemented his reputation as a knowledgeable statesman.
President James Monroe appointed Poinsett as the first U.S. Minister to Mexico in 1825, a role that began his connection to the now-famous plant. His mission was to establish relations with the newly independent nation and address issues like boundary disputes.
While his political career in Mexico was often strained—marked by attempts to purchase Texas and meddling in local politics—his scientific interest flourished. He actively explored the Mexican countryside, collecting various plant species to send back home.
Flor de Nochebuena: The Plant’s Native History
The Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is indigenous to a region extending from Southern Mexico into Central America. Long before its American name, the plant was known to the Aztecs in their native Nahuatl language as Cuetlaxochitl. This name translates roughly to “flower that withers” or “mortal flower that perishes,” a reference to its deciduous nature.
The Aztecs cultivated Cuetlaxochitl for practical and ceremonial purposes. They utilized the plant’s brilliant red bracts to produce a reddish-purple dye for textiles and cosmetics. The milky white sap, or latex, was also used medicinally to treat fevers.
Following the Spanish conquest, the plant became associated with the Christmas season in Mexico due to its winter blooming period. The Spanish Franciscan friars began using the striking red blooms in their Nativity processions, where it gained the name Flor de Nochebuena or “Flower of the Holy Night”. This cultural connection established the plant’s symbolic ties to the holiday, with its star-shaped pattern thought to represent the Star of Bethlehem.
From Diplomatic Gift to American Icon
Poinsett encountered the plant in 1828 while visiting the area near Taxco, in the state of Guerrero, where the plant grew as a large woody shrub. Enchanted by the striking red blooms, Poinsett took cuttings of the plant. He shipped these samples back to his personal greenhouses and gardens in South Carolina, where he began propagating them.
Poinsett shared the cuttings with friends, amateur botanists, and various botanical gardens across the country. One notable recipient was Robert Buist, a prominent Philadelphia nurseryman, who exhibited the plant at a flower show in 1829. Buist is also credited with introducing the plant to Europe in the 1830s, initially calling it Euphorbia Poinsettia.
The common name “Poinsettia” was formally cemented around 1836 by William Prescott, a historian and horticulturalist. Prescott chose the name to honor Poinsett’s discovery and introduction of the plant to the American public.
Modern Cultivation and Botanical Features
The Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). In its native habitat, the plant is a perennial shrub that can reach heights of up to 10 to 16 feet. A common misunderstanding is that the bright red portions are flowers; they are actually modified leaves called bracts.
The plant’s true flowers, known as cyathia, are the small, inconspicuous yellow clusters located in the center of the colorful bracts. Modern cultivation has produced over a hundred varieties, moving beyond the traditional red to include white, pink, marbled, and speckled colors. The Ecke family of California played a transformative role in the 20th century, developing techniques and marketing strategies that cemented the Poinsettia as a holiday staple.
The long-standing myth that the Poinsettia is severely toxic is largely unfounded. Studies by various organizations, including the American Association of Poison Control Centers, have found that ingestion rarely causes more than minor gastrointestinal distress. A child or pet would need to consume hundreds of leaves to reach a dose that might cause significant issues.