Poinsettias at Christmas – Q&A

At Christmas time, we see a wealth of red and green colour sweep through our homes. This comes from a range of traditional decorations, many of which revolve around plants and flowers. One of our favourite sources of rich and vivid red over the Christmas period is the poinsettia. These plants have an unmistakable appearance, and people welcome them into their homes all across the globe as a festive decoration. But where do they come from? Why are they festive? Are they poisonous? Are those leaves or flowers? Let’s take a look at some answers…

What Are The Origins of Poinsettias at Christmas?

Poinsettias are native to Mexico and parts of Guatemala, where this plant is known as ‘La Flor de la Nochebuena’. This translates as ‘the flower of the holy night’, or ‘the flower of Christmas Eve’. So, why are poinsettias connected with Christmas time? Well, there is a legend about how poinsettias became connected to Christmas…

A Mexican Legend

This legend suggests that there was a poor Mexican girl who did not have any presents to give the baby Jesus. Nevertheless, she was encouraged by a cousin to express her love in any token that she was able to offer. The cousin said that it is not the size or monetary value of the present that counts. Even the smallest present would be worth giving if it came from a loving place. So, with this thought in mind, the poor girl collected together some grasses and weeds and offered these as a homemade bouquet. When she placed it down at the nativity scene, she began to feel better about the gift. Then it changed into an impressive bouquet of red flowers, and these flowers were poinsettia, the ‘Flowers of the Holy Night’.

Nativity Story

There are also aspects of the plants which are associated with specific elements of the nativity story. For instance, the shape of the leaves is often associated with the star of Bethlehem which led the wise men to the baby Jesus. The rich red colour is also associated with the blood of Jesus, which links the plant to the story of Jesus’s sacrifice. In this second respect, the plant shares symbolism with plants such as holly, whose red berries also have the same religious association with Jesus’s sacrifice.

Are They Flowers or Leaves?

A rather surprising fact about the poinsettia is that those gorgeous red blooms that you see aren’t actually flowers. They are leaves! These colourful red parts of the plant (which you would think are flowers) are actually modified leaves technically called bracts. These bracts come in different colours across different varieties of the plant. You will be able to find poinsettias with a creamy white tone of leaf, whilst others have more of a pink hue. There are even pure white poinsettia, as well as bright orange ones. The most iconic of the variations, however, has to be the bright red bracts.

Are They Poisonous?

So, now we know a little bit more about their festive origin story, and the fact they are leaves (not flowers). We can move onto some more information about the plant itself. A big question to ask about any plant you are bringing into your home is whether it is poisonous. This is an especially important question if you have either little ones or pets running about who might be tempted to give one of those red leaves a chew!

Even though some people are under the misconception that poinsettia plants are extremely deadly, this is actually not the case. In fact, the truth is that, in most cases, poinsettias would only have a mild effect on pets and children if they licked or chewed one leaf. The plant might cause some irritation to the stomach, causing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea for a short time. As the leaves taste horrible and would probably spit it out quite quickly. So, it is a good thing to bear in mind that these plants are not lethal. With that said, you should try to minimise the likelihood of animals or children ingesting a leaf.

There has also been evidence that the sap or leaves can cause mild irritation, such as a light rash. So, although these plants are not as toxic as was once thought, they do have a low level of toxicity to them. This means it’s best to avoid pets or children from being able to get hold of them. A sensible stance would be to have the plants somewhere that is not easily accessible to a pet or a child. Try displaying them on a higher shelf or mantelpiece.

Why Use Artificial Poinsettias?

There is a lot to do over the Christmas. Making sure you buy and wrap the presents for loved ones. Preparing a Christmas dinner. Decorating the house for a big family get together or party. Plus, keeping the house clean and tidy amidst all this! The festive period is certainly a fun but busy time for all.

For this reason, would be understandable if, the extra hassle of keeping poinsettias away from animals and children doesn’t sound appealing. The good news is that there is a simple solution. With high quality realistic artificial poinsettia plants, you will be able to enjoy the Christmassy icon, without those worries.

Another benefit of course is that the faux poinsettias will also stay looking just as impressive without you having to tend to them. No need to water, feed or make sure they are getting enough light. Plus, you can get stunning artificial poinsettias in a whole range of different colours and styles to enhance your decorations. Even clip-on versions which will allow you to add them to far more places than the real thing would. You can even store them and then get them out again each Christmas period.

How Do You Display Poinsettias at Christmas?

Christmas time is a time for feasting with friends and family. One classic method of displaying your poinsettias goes along with this, as you can use the plants as part of your table centrepieces. One option which we are a fan of is simply to use a small potted poinsettia, or a poinsettia bunch in the centre of the table as a focal point. They could be used to surround a candle arrangement or perhaps to add colour to a foliage centerpiece.

We also love the aesthetic effect of festive floral arrangements. The poinsettia can play an important role in this part of festive decorations too. With the striking shape of the individual leaves, and the powerful colour of the plant, it weaves into festive floral arrangements in a striking manner. Add a touch of red poinsettia or white poinsettia into a floral arrangement and it will be sure to pop.

This much is the same for wreaths and garlands. Try either incorporating them into your own creations or pick up a high quality artificial wreath which you can re-use each year.

You might think about using artificial clip-on poinsettias to decorate the tree itself. Spread their leaves out to help fill gaps between branches and create a lovely touch of Christmas colour. They can also clip onto awkward places and stay more secure than the real thing would.

As well as Christmas tree decorations, a small faux poinsettia stem and bloom might also serve as the finishing touch in your present wrapping. Using flowers such as the poinsettia for extra decoration on large gifts can really elevate the level of your present wrapping. Especially for those main presents, a floral flourish on the top of the gift will be sure to make it feel even more exciting and special.