Photo by Clayton Hauck for Phillip’s Interior Plants
The Poinsettia’s holiday popularity might be based on a Mexican legend. Or it might be due to the horticultural skills of the Ecke Family. In 1900 a German immigrant named Albert Ecke was so taken with the bright red bracts of the plant that only blossomed in the winter that he began selling Poinsettias on the roadsides of Southern California as “the Christmas Plant.” That humble start lead to a multi-generational family operation. Though there were other growers, the Eckes pioneered a technique that grew a hardier variety of Poinsettia that had more blooms and could arrive intact after shipping. Today approximately 100 million Poinsettias are sold each year, and for many, evoke the warmth and happiness of the holidays.
There are currently more than 100 varieties of Poinsettias available from growers around the globe. Poinsettias come in a variety of colors including white, cream, apricot, pink, yellow, red, purple, green, and salmon. Millennial pink is even an option from some growers! There are also marbled versions of the Poinsettia that include everything from a subtle ivory/soft pink combination to a striking fuchsia/white combination.
Recently a new variety of Poinsettia has come on the scene: the Winter Rose Poinsettia, also known as the Poinsettia Christmas Rose. As you may guess from the name, this plant is known for its large rose like blooms (actually bracts that curl under similar in appearance to a gathered seam) and offers a bit of a twist on the traditional Poinsettia. Though different in appearance, the care for these plants is the same as for a traditional Poinsettia.
Other festive alternatives to the traditional Poinsettia include decorated Norfolk pines, Kalanchoes adorned with glitter twigs, and chic dish gardens that may include a selection of the following: white Calandiva, white Cyclamen, red Poinsettias, Frosty Ferns, Goldcrest Cypress, English Ivy, and Dieffenbachia Camille.
Not only does Phillip’s Interior Plants sell Poinsettias and holiday plants to businesses throughout Chicagoland, we also offer maintenance services so that your plants can look their best throughout the holiday season! Our optional Guaranteed Maintenance Service means that if a plant fails to thrive with our regularly scheduled, professional maintenance, we will provide you with a complimentary replacement. Want to know more, just ask us! We love plants, and we love talking about plants!
If you are looking for individual Poinsettias as gifts in Chicagoland, be sure to visit our parent company Phillip’s Flowers.
