December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, designated by Congress to honor the flower and Joel Robert Poinsett, botanist and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. Native to Mexico, the poinsettia, with over 50 million sold annually, is the number one flowering potted plant sold in the United States.
History of Poinsettias
The Aztecs had a unique name for poinsettias, referring to them as “Cuetlaxochitl.” In the 14th to 16th centuries, they recognized the healing potential of the sap, using it to combat fevers, while the bracts, modified leaves of the plant, served as a source for creating a reddish dye.
In a different era, during the reign of Montezuma, the last Aztec king, poinsettias were a prized commodity. Due to the high-altitude environment of what is now Mexico City, these vibrant plants could not thrive locally. To fulfill Montezuma’s desire for these flowers, they were transported into the city by caravan.
Centuries later, in the 1820s, Joel Roberts Poinsett assumed the role of the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, appointed by President Andrew Jackson. Poinsett’s deep interest in botany led him to introduce the American elm into Mexico. During his diplomatic tenure, he explored the Mexican countryside in search of new plant species. In 1828, he stumbled upon a stunning shrub adorned with large red flowers growing alongside a road. Poinsett carefully collected cuttings from this plant and transported them to his greenhouse in South Carolina.
Despite Poinsett’s distinguished career as a US Congressman and Ambassador, his enduring legacy will forever be associated with the introduction of the poinsettia into the United States.