National Poinsettia Day
Join us for a celebration of the ‘Christmas flower’ – Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima.
We will have a spectacular display of home grown Poinsettias for you to enjoy, with 22 varieties in shades of pink, white and red, we are sure to have the perfect Poinsettia for you!
Festive Poinsettia Bowl Competition..!
Why not enter our Competition to WIN a Festive Poinsettia Bowl worth £36.95! It’s free to enter – simply fill in a competition form in our Houseplant Department between the 9th and 12th of December for your chance to win! (Winner will be notified on Friday 13th December 2019).
History of National Poinsettia Day
The first National Poinsettia Day was celebrated in 2002 after the passing of Paul Ecke Jr., a pioneering horticulturist regarded as the father of the poinsettia industry, whose innovations caused the Poinsettia trade to flourish. The day, 12th of December, is chosen for this celebration as it was the death anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico, who in 1828 discovered Poinsettia flowers growing on a hillside in Southern Mexico. After his discovery Poinsett sent cuttings of the plant to his home in Charleston, South Carolina and began distributing the flowers once after it had grown well in his greenhouse.
Click here for an interesting article from the Los Angeles Times documenting the life of Paul Ecke Jr.
Click here for more information on Poinsettia Day.
The Legend of the Poinsettia
Legend has it that a poor child in Mexico having nothing to give the Infant Jesus on his birthday gathered some weeds into lovely bouquets, the only gift he had to offer. When he brought his gift to the manger, the simple weed was transformed into a brilliant red bloom – a poinsettia! Now known as the beautiful “Flower of the Holy Night”.
Secrets for Success…
– Good light position but no midday sun.
– Select a warm room with no draughts.
– Feed once a fortnight with a high potash feed.
– Water moderately; allow compost top to dry before re-watering.
For more information please see our Festive Houseplants information leaflet.