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Poinsett the Statesman and the Painted Leaf Plant
Joel Poinsett, a prominent U.S. statesman and friend to four presidents, introduced the Painted Leaf or Mexican Fire Plant to the United States and popularized the plant now known as the poinsettia. As ambassador to Mexico he urged its cultivation and grew it at his South Carolina home, aiding its rise to a Christmas decorative staple. The article explains that the red bracts are leaves, not flowers, and notes color variations. It also gives care guidance including temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, avoiding drafts, and watering once daily to keep soil moderately dry for root oxygen.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joel Roberts Poinsett
United States
Poinsett
U.S
Mexico
South Carolina
Peinsettia