Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia, Noche Buena)
Botanical Information
Family | Euphorbiaceae |
Genus | Euphorbia |
Species | pulcherrima |
Category | Tropicals |
Origin | Mexico and Central America. |
Details
USDA Hardiness Zone | 9 - 11 |
USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season protection under glass. |
Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H1c |
RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
Temperature (°C) | -2 |
Temperature (°F) | 24 |
Height | 0.6 to 4 m |
Spread | 0.3 - 0.6 m |
Growth | Medium |
Flowering Period | July, August, September |
Description and Growing Information
Shape | Spreading. |
Landscape | Potted seasonal plant. |
Cultivation | Grow in partial shade in moist, well-draining, humus-rich and acidic soil. |
Pests | Whitefly, mealybugs, red spider mites and scale. Root and stem rot if overwatered. |
Bark/Stem Description | In the wild the plant dons woody glaborous stems. In cultivation the stems are less woody and more fleshy, glaborous and medium green to reddish-green. |
Leaf Description | The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 7 to 16 cm in length. The coloured bracts—which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white or marbled—are actually leaves. |
Flower Description | The flowers, called cyathia, are grouped within the small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch. |
Texture Description | Smooth, leathery. |
Photographs
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Advantage Red' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Advantage Red'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Advantage-Red-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Advantage Red'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Autumn Leaves' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Autumn Leaves'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Autumn-Leaves-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Autumn Leaves'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Carousel Dark Red' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Carousel Dark Red'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Carousel-Dark-Red-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Carousel Dark Red'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Beauty Nostalgia' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Beauty Nostalgia'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Christmas-Beauty-Nostalgia-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Beauty Nostalgia'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Joy' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Joy'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Christmas-Joy-frm.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Joy'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Joy White' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Joy White'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Christmas-Joy-White-frm.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Joy White'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Ribbons' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Ribbons'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Christmas-Ribbons-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Christmas Ribbons'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cinnamon Star' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cinnamon Star'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Cinnamon-Star-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cinnamon Star'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cortez White' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cortez White'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Cortez-White-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cortez White'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Early Twilight' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Early Twilight'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Early-Twilight-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Early Twilight'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Envy' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Envy'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Envy-frm.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Envy'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Glace' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Glace'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Glace-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Glace'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Gold Rush' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Gold Rush'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Gold-Rush-frm.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Gold Rush'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Punch' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Punch'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Ice-Punch-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Punch'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Jingle Bells Rock' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Jingle Bells Rock'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Jingle-Bells-Rock-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Jingle Bells Rock'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Hot Pink' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Hot Pink'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Luv-U-Hot-Pink-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Hot Pink'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Pink Splash' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Pink Splash'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Luv-U-Pink-Splash-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Pink Splash'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Soft Pink' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Soft Pink'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Luv-U-Soft-Pink-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Luv U Soft Pink'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Marbella' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Marbella'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Marbella-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Marbella'
![Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Peppermint Ruffles' Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Peppermint Ruffles'](photos/Euphorbia-pulcherrmia-Peppermint-Ruffles-flw.jpg)
Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Peppermint Ruffles'