As we remember the heroes of Pearl Harbor, today we turn our attention to the
poinsettia, widely known as the Christmas flower.
Although the Euphorbia pulcherrima has no direct tie to Jesus or the Christmas
story and was only introduced to our country in 1825, it has become the floral
symbol for the holidays in our country.
Plant-loving Joel Poinsett, who was our first ambassador to Mexico, discovered
the colorful poinsettia growing wild in southern Mexico and sent starts back to
his native South Carolina and growers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Photo Caption: OSU-OKC horticulture technician Jill Foster tends a greenhouse
full of poinsettias, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, in preparation for a Poinsettia Sale
on Thursday at the John Kirkpatrick Horticulture Center in Oklahoma City, OK.
Photo Credit: Paul Hellstern
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The Oklahoman
