Poinsettias are the favored flowering holiday plant this time of the year. While red is still the traditional color, pinks, whites, variegated, salmon, yellow and even orange varieties abound. Plant sizes vary from standard 4- to 6-inch pots to miniatures to tree forms and even hanging baskets.
I contacted a couple of our area garden centers to see what new and interesting poinsettias they are selling this season. It's amazing what's available, with free, professional advice on how to get the most from this holiday plant.
Stanley's Greenhouses and Plant Farm in south Knoxville grows all of its own poinsettias starting with unrooted cuttings in June. It takes six good months of growing with tender loving care to produce the beautiful, high quality poinsettias they sell. Some of the new selections they are selling this year include "Orange Spice," a really true orange poinsettia great for any Tennessee Volunteer fan; "Ice Punch," a cranberry red with a frosty white pattern; "Peppermint Twist Winter Rose," dark green incurved leaves and bracts producing unique globe-shaped flower heads; and "Red Glitter," red with a lot of white splotches giving a striking look. You'll find these selections plus many others in a variety of sizes, including some in tree form and in hanging baskets.
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