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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Plant

Poinsettia

Poinsettia is the common name for *Euphorbia pulcherrima*, a flowering plant in the spurge family.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Poinsettia is the common name for *Euphorbia pulcherrima*, a flowering plant in the spurge family native to Mexico and Central America. It is widely grown as a decorative potted plant, especially during the Christmas season.

What it is

The poinsettia is a perennial shrub or small tree known for its showy coloured bracts (modified leaves) rather than petals. The true flowers are small and clustered in the centre. It is a short-day plant, meaning it blooms when nights are longer than days.

Why it matters

Poinsettias are a commercially important ornamental plant, especially associated with Christmas in Canada and the United States. They are commonly sold in Canadian garden centres and supermarkets during winter. The plant was introduced to the U.S. by Joel Poinsett, after whom it is named.

Key details

The plant produces a milky latex sap that can irritate skin or mucous membranes, but it is generally considered not highly toxic to people. In its native range, poinsettia can grow much larger than as a potted plant. The coloured bracts come in red, pink, white, and other shades.

In short

  • Poinsettia is *Euphorbia pulcherrima*, a spurge-family plant from Mexico and Central America.
  • Its coloured parts are bracts, not flowers; true flowers are small and central.
  • It is a short-day plant, blooming in response to longer nights.
  • The sap can irritate skin but the plant is not highly toxic to people.
Canadian angle

Poinsettias are a major holiday plant in Canada as well as the United States, and they are commonly sold in Canadian garden centres and supermarkets during the winter season.[7]

Quick questions

What is a poinsettia?
A poinsettia is *Euphorbia pulcherrima*, an ornamental plant in the spurge family widely sold during the Christmas season.
Are the red parts of a poinsettia flowers?
No. The coloured parts are bracts, which are modified leaves; the true flowers are small and located in the centre.
Are poinsettias poisonous?
They are generally not considered highly poisonous to people, though the sap can irritate skin and mucous membranes.

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions — https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/five-facts-about-poinsettia/
    Supports: Toxicity, human exposure data, and general poinsettia facts
  2. NC State University Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-pulcherrima/
    Supports: Scientific name, family, native range, growth habit, etymology
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/poinsettia
    Supports: Species identity, family, native range, ornamental use
  4. University of Florida IFAS Extension — https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP349
    Supports: Bracts, true flowers, introduction history, short-day flowering, sap irritation
  5. University of Minnesota Extension — https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/poinsettia
    Supports: Bracts, flowering response, care, and non-poisonous characterization
  6. University of Illinois Extension — https://extension.illinois.edu/houseplants/poinsettia
    Supports: Popularity in the United States and Canada as a holiday potted plant
  7. Clemson University HGIC — https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/poinsettia/
    Supports: Commercial popularity and sales volume in the United States