POINSETTIA THE FLOWER OF THE HOLY NIGHT

 

The Poinsettia is named after the USA's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett, who served from 1825-1829.

He saw and was greatly taken with the colorful indigenous plant which was the Mexican Christmas flower.

The Aztecs called Poinsettias “Cuetlaxochitle.” And between the 14th and 16th centuries the sap was used to control fevers and the red leaves were used to make dye.

Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings was particularly fond of Poinsettias and had them brought especially to what is now Mexico City because the shrub could not be grown at high altitude.

Poinsett took some specimen plants with him on one of his trips back to America in 1828 and they flourished.

Despite an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the Poinsettia into the United States.

the Mexicans believed the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem because of the star shapes created by the bright red leaves Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season.

The Mexicans call the poinsettia “Flower of the Holy Night”.