The Holiday Poinsettiaby Greg Niemann
Throughout history, Mexico has made numerous gifts to its big neighbor to the north. Tomatoes, avocados and chiles all came from Mexico, and the state of Baja California alone has contributed fish tacos, Caesar salads and margaritas. Over the years, the U.S. has received many Mexican sons and daughters; and even, following the Mexican-American War, gave Americans the entire state of California.
But the most colorful gift that wended its way north is the flaming red poinsettia, that ubiquitous holiday plant that entices Christmas shoppers in malls and supermarkets everywhere. The poinsettia, which blooms in December, lends a festive air to homes and businesses on both sides of the border. And its origins are as Mexican as mariachi music.
Native to the area around present-day Taxco, the Aztecs cultivated the plant they called Cuetlayochitl (Cuetlaxochitle in some references), using the sap to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) to make a reddish dye. The plant was so popular that even Montezuma had them caravaned into Mexico City as they could not be grown in that high altitude.
After the Spaniards arrived, in the 17th century a group of Franciscan priests that settled near Taxco began using the red flowers for the Fiesta of Santa Pesembre (Feast of the Holy Manger), the first known holiday usage.
What is a Mexican tradition without a supporting legend? The poinsettia legend has a poor Mexican girl named Pepita walking with her brother (or cousin, versions vary) Pedro to Christmas Eve services at the village church where people made gifts to the Christ Child. She was sad as she had no gift.
Pedro said consolingly, "I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes."
So Pepita knelt by the roadside and scooped a handful of common weeds and tried to fashion them into a presentable bouquet. In the chapel, Pepita placed the makeshift bouquet at the foot of the Nativity scene. Suddenly the weeds burst into beautiful red blooms and all who saw were certain they had witnessed a miracle. From then on, the flower in Mexico became known as the Flor de Nochebuena, or Flower of the Holy Night. The botanical name is also colorful (for Latin) and the plants were named Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild (pulcherrima means most beautiful) by German botanist Wilenow who was dazzled by their color. The Mexicans have their name for the flower and the scientists have their identifying moniker, but how did Americans come to know it as the poinsettia? Enter John Roberts Poinsett.
Born in South Carolina in 1779, Poinsett became a special agent to South America, served in his state legislature, and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives before heading to Mexico as special envoy. He was the first American ambassador to Mexico (appointed by Andrew Jackson) and was later a Unionist in rebel South Carolina. His outstanding career also included serving as Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren (1837–1841).
But Poinsett is best known for the flower that bears his name. An accomplished botanist, in 1825 he sent some of the brilliant flowers from Mexico to his own nursery in South Carolina, and also to other friends and American horticulturalists, and they thrived. As the plant became more popular, historian and horticulturalist William Prescott was asked to give the plant a popular name. He chose poinsettia, honoring Joel Poinsett's contribution.
A little known fact is that Poinsett was also the person who introduced the American Elm to Mexico, with the end result being a literal swapping of botanical gifts.
The present-day poinsettia has been hybridized greatly in the U.S. and Europe from the original Mexican plant. Today there are over 100 varieties, with varying heights, colors (red, pink, white), bract width and flowering habits.
Today 90 percent of all poinsettias are grown in the United States. They are commercially grown in all 50 states, with California top producer. One of the world's largest commercial growers is the Paul Ecke Ranch in nearby Encinitis, which grows over 80 percent of the U.S. wholesale market. In fact, 90 percent of all flowering poinsettias in the world got their start at Paul Ecke Ranch in north San Diego County.
The Ecke Ranch originated in 1902 when Albert Ecke started growing poinsettias in Eagle Rock, now a community of northeast Los Angeles. In 1909, he and his son specialized in poinsettias. They moved to Encinitis in 1923.
Paul Ecke poinsettias are known for huge, giant bloom centers and a unique single stem presentation.
December 12 has been designated National Poinsettia Day and the flower represents 85 percent of all potted plant sales during the holiday season. Hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of poinsettias are sold during the brief six-week season.
Poinsettias grow rapidly in Southern California, and do well in coastal areas. That simple holiday pot, planted in a yard will, in a few short years, be a flowering tree.
The cost of a poinsettia is determined by the number of blooms. Red rules as 74 percent of all Americans prefer that color to white (8 percent) and pink (6 percent). Women purchase 80 percent of America's best-selling potted plant.
In the large supermarkets and wholesale outlets like Costco, poinsettias are as ubiquitous at yuletide as chewing gum at the checkout counter, except because of the size and brilliance, the poinsettias are much more obvious and shopping carts quickly get filled with them.
I don't know what use the Mexicans made of the American Elm, but without their Flor de Nochebuena, the holiday season just wouldn't be the same for millions of Americans.
Greg Niemann has written extensively about Baja California for numerous publications, and is the author of Baja Fever, Baja Legends, Palm Springs Legends, and Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS. www.gregniemann.com
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