Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima
- Native to:
- Guatemala, Mexico
Frank Vincentz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Genus:
- Euphorbia
- Species:
- Euphorbia pulcherrima
- USDA Symbol:
- EUPU9
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- red, white, pink, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ello Sphinx (Erinnyis ello), Episimus sp., Obscure Sphinx (Erinnyis obscura)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical forests, prefers organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and temperatures around 70-75°F. Typically propagated by cuttings rather than seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI