Poinsettias - A Brief History and Photo Gallery of Poinsettia Flowers

The beautiful poinsettia has been around a long time. In fact, what we call "the Poinsettia", is a native plant to Mexico. The Aztecs were known to call the poinsettia "Cuetlaxochitl". This was a name that signified a flower that withers, or a mortal flower that must perish like all things pure. This beautiful flowering plant, the Cuetlaxochitl, was actually cultivated and thought of as a gift from the gods and Montezuma. Montezuma's time as from 1480 through 1520, and was the last of the Aztec Kings. It was interesting to find out that he loved these flowers to adorn his palaces with this plant. (Note: I am sharing here, only a very limited, though early history of the Poinsettia, or Cuetlaxochitl. There is much more that could said on the history of poinsettias.)

Because of its blood red color, it served the Aztecs as a reminder of sacrifice. More specific, a sacrifice they believed that the gods had made, to help create the universe. Thus, the need to repay with human sacrifice, which we have verified by findings in archaeology over time.

One a more practical note, this plant used the sap from the Poinsettia to be a cure for fever. The bracts, or leaves were used to make dyes.

This collection is one in which I collected during the Christmas season and they are pretty self explanatory. Of note, I especially liked the poinsettia "tree", and the bright pink poinsettias that were very bright and cheerful. I also liked the display ideas as a compliment to other decorations, or as a unique display themselves.

These poinsettias are paired with other flowers and plants as well, which I found interesting. I never would have thought some of these would look so great together. For a completely different look, you can see how they paired the bright pink with the white poinsettias. The large hanging poinsettia was also very pretty.