Poinsettia

Poinsettia

　　The poinsettia, also known as Christmas flower, ivory red, or lobster plant, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is a deciduous shrub and a greenhouse flower, originally from Mexico and Central America. Its leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptic to lanceolate in shape, with entire margins. The plant features the characteristic cyathium inflorescence of the Euphorbia genus. The bracts start turning bright red from mid-February and can remain so until February of the following year. In addition, there are also white and pink varieties, which are beautiful ornamental plants in late winter and early spring. Its leaves can also be used medicinally.

　　Poinsettias are mainly grown as potted ornamental plants, but they can also be used as cut flowers. They have been cultivated by locals around Caoqiao Village in Huaxiang, Fengtai District for a long time. Nowadays, various flower production teams in Huaxiang, Fengtai District all grow them, making it one of the district’s major floral varieties and an important premium flower product.

　　Poinsettias are typically propagated through cuttings. The best time for cutting is usually between February and March or in July. Roots and shoots appear about a month later, and the plants are transplanted outdoors after the Beginning of Spring. They are moved into greenhouses in November, with their peak flowering period occurring between New Year's Day and the Spring Festival.