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The Poinsettia, is the most common if not T H E christmas plant above all.

Today I want to share a few things about them, you probably didn't know:

1
Poinsettias are not poisonous, recent research has proven this. BUT they still can cause a bad tummy or allergies, so still keep them away from your toddlers or cats and dogs.

2
Poinsettias bloom in a huge variety of colors. They come in pinks and peaches, yellows and cream/whites. Some even are speckled or marbled. Red though is still the most common color around the globe.

3
The ancient Aztecs (the Mexican Indians) prized the Poinsettia as a symbol of purity and used it at religious ceremonies. Centuries later, Mexico's early Christians adopted the Poinsettia as their prized Christmas Eve flower. For some, these star-shaped bracts symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. A Mexican legend explains how Poinsettias came to be associated with Christmas. Apparently, a child who could not afford a gift to offer to Christ on Christmas Eve picked some weeds from the side of a road. The child was told that a humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable in God's eyes. When brought into the church, the weeds bloomed into red and green flowers and the congregation felt that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle.

4
Poinsettia can reach heights of 12 feet /3.5 meter with leaves measuring six to eight inches / 15-20 cm across in the wild.

5
Not so unknown by now is the fact that poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves. The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center. The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves.

6
The 12th of December is "Poinsettia Day". The United States have observed this official day since the mid-1800s. Dr. Joel R. Poinsett discovered a shrub with brilliantly colored red leaves growing by the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico, in December 1828. Poinsett died Dec.12, 1851. - The 12th is still a few days ahead, so maybe you like to surprise a beloved one with this beautiful plant?

7
In case you do, here's a very useful tip: when taking poinsettia home from the store protect it from exposure to wind or cold. Because they are highly sensitive to cold temperatures and even a few minutes of exposure to 50°F / 10°C or lower temperatures will cause them to wilt.