# History of the Poinsettia: Why is it the Christmas Flower? > Reading Time: 2 minutesHistory of the Poinsettia: the history of the "Christmas flower" from its origin in Mexico to its popularity in the US. #HistoryOfTheHolidays > URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-poinsettia/ > Last modified: 2025-12-12T17:56:33+00:00 Reading Time: 2 minutesPoinsettia. Image: [Wikimedia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/La_flor_de_pascua_%28Euphorbia_pulcherrima%29_%285231553703%29.jpg/640px-La_flor_de_pascua_%28Euphorbia_pulcherrima%29_%285231553703%29.jpg) ## HISTORY OF THE POINSETTIA *December 12* is National Poinsettia Day in the United States. Poinsettia is pronounced either poin-SET-E-ah or poin-SET-ah.   *Why is it the Christmas flower, and how did it become popular in the United States?*   Table of Contents Toggle - [Poinsettia in Mexico](#Poinsettia_in_Mexico) - [Poinsett: Physician and Diplomat](#Poinsett_Physician_and_Diplomat) - [Poinsettia Etymological Evolution](#Poinsettia_Etymological_Evolution) - [Related](#Related) ### Poinsettia in Mexico During college, I studied one summer in **Cuernavaca**, a little town about an hour and a half south of Mexico City. *Nochebuena*, the Mexican name of the flower English speakers call *poinsettia*, was discovered in **Taxco** and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca. The story is told: In Mexico long ago, the people flocked to church on Christmas Eve because they loved to fill the Christ child’s manger with flowers. A little boy named Jose was too poor to buy any flowers. An angel appeared to him and told him to pick some weeds from the side of the road. Following the instructions, Jose brought the weeds to the church. When he put them in the manger, they changed into beautiful scarlet flowers. The Mexicans call them the “*Flor de la Noche Buena*,” the Flower of [Christmas Eve](https://billpetro.com/history-of-christmas-eve/).   ### Poinsett: Physician and Diplomat Joel Robert Poinsett. Image: [Wikipedia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/JRP-SoW%2C_S.jpg/330px-JRP-SoW%2C_S.jpg) Almost two centuries ago, these striking blooms caught the attention of **Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett**, America’s first minister (ambassador) to Mexico between 1825 and 1829. Dr. Poinsett brought the plant to the United States and raised it in his Charleston, South Carolina greenhouses. It was named in his honor in 1836. The initial Latin name was *Euphorbia pulcherrima*, “the most beautiful spurge.” You may know Dr. Poinsett as the founder of the *National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts*, the predecessor of the **Smithsonian Institution**. He had studied law at his father’s insistence, without much interest, before studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He served in the South Carolina legislature and the United States House of Representatives, as well as Secretary of War under President **Martin Van Buren**. Poinsett traveled extensively in Europe, western Asia, and Latin America.   ### Poinsettia Etymological Evolution The plant was initially known in the United States as “painted leaf” or “Mexican fire plant,” until it was eventually named *poinsetta pulcherrima*, or “poinsettia,” in honor of its “discoverer,” Dr. Poinsett. There are also white, pink, and dappled poinsettias. By the early 1900s, they were sold as potted plants in California. Many poinsettias are still raised in the state, especially for use as Christmas gifts and decorations. Ventura, California, is even known as the “Poinsettia City.”   Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian [billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com) *Podcast*: [*Subscribe*](http://g003.enterprise.ipost.com/billpetrofriend/prefs) to have future articles delivered to your email. 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