All deep green leaves and fiery red petals, poinsettias have long been associated with the holidays.
Known as euphorbia pulcherrima among scientists and "Noche Buena," or Christmas Eve, in Mexico, the poinsettia, legend has it, grew out of weeds collected by a girl too poor to buy gifts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. When she set her humble bouquet at the church manger, they turned into brilliant blooms.
Local garden centres are bursting with poinsettias right now — at Hole's Greenhouses and Gardens in St. Albert, rows and rows of poinsettias stretch as far as the eye can see.
"A poinsettia can take a home environment that is pretty sedate and non-Christmas-y and just punches it right up," says Jim Hole.
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