It is time to start decorating for the holidays, which for many includes the poinsettia. The poinsettia has been a fixture in American homes as a holiday decoration for as long as most of us can remember. I think it is fair to say that it is considered the ‘official’ Christmas flower.

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and has been recognized for its beauty and function for centuries. The Aztec cultivated it for medicinal and household purposes. From the leaves a red dye was made; and from the woody stem oozed a milky sap that reduced fever. In the 17th century Franciscan priests living in Mexico used the brightly colored foliage of the plant to decorate Nativity processionals (it was the only thing blooming that time of the year) which seems to be its first association with Christmas.

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