That’s right 52 million poinsettias are sold in the states annually… a pretty impressive stat, considering you usually only see the beautiful red flower for a couple of weeks a year. The poinsettia is native to Guatemala and Mexico. You’re listening to Harry’s Tavern Band with “Flower of Mexico”.
So what’s the Christmas tie-in? A young Mexican peasant girl. As the legend has it, having no gift to place before the altar of the Virgin Mother and baby Jesus, she gathered some plain-looking flowers and presented them. Once on the altar they burst into the deep red for which poinsettias are prized.
But how’d they get their name? From theflowerexpert.com: “Poinsettia was named after the former US ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel R. Poinsett who introduced the Poinsettia to the United States.”