Poinsettias

Poinsettias ( Euphorbia pulcherrima ) are a well known potted plant in the Western World. It is frequently used to decorate the Christmas table or the house during Christmas and other festivities. In the Northern Hemisphere, the bright red bracts will add a warmth to the house in the cold and wintery conditions around Christmas time.

Here in Sydney Australia , our climatic conditions mean that the poinsettia can not only be a potted plant for temporary indoor use, but can also be planted in the garden as an ornamental plant. Left unchecked, it can grow to around 4 metres high, but if pruned correctly, it can form a nice dense and shapely flowering plant with a long flowering season. The red "flowers" are not really flowers, but are called "bracts", which are really a modified leaf. The real flowers are bunched in the centre of the bracts, and are comparatively insignificant.

This is a great plant, but be careful of the milky white sap which comes out of the stems when cut. I't not good for the skin and eyes. The Poinsettia is native to Mexico.