Does the poinsettia really need an introduction? The only plant that is more famous than the poinsettia during the Christmas season is the iconic Christmas tree.
But for the benefit of the few who have not heard of, nor seen, a poinsettia, it is very easy plant to identify. Essentially, if you’re looking at a potted plant that has several clusters of exceptionally large, brightly coloured flowers, the odds are pretty good that it’s a poinsettia.
Poinsettias are indigenous to Central America and Mexico where they can easily grow three to four metres tall. They develop large, showy, red flowers specifically designed to catch the eye of hummingbirds, which find the poinsettia’s sugar-rich nectar irresistible. As the birds hunt for nectar, they inadvertently spread pollen from poinsettia to poinsettia — a win for both bird and plant.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Edmonton Journal
