Newswise — Ahhh, the colors of Christmas. Green trees, silver bells, white snow, red stockings, blue poinsettias " yes, that's right - blue. Poinsettias, the traditional velvety red Christmas hallmark, are now trending to a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes to fit anyone's budget, lifestyle and taste.
From sunny yellow, sophisticated cream, brilliant pink, pure white and rich burgundy to the more exotic and unusual including salmon, orange, purple, coral and peach, today's consumer can pick poinsettias with bracts (the colorful leaf of the plant) to complement their carpeting, bedspread or sofa in solid, spotted or striped patterns.
How do they get this way? The blue ones are spray painted, according to Richard Cowhig, assistant professor of ornamental horticulture at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa. Most others are genetically bred, taking several varieties of plant and manipulating their seeds to create a new variety while some, although more rare, get their new colors from a natural mutation where there has been cross pollination in nature.
Why the trend? It's a fact that women are creating the demand for more and more colors, shades and styles. They are the primary plant purchasers and drive the entire plant market, particularly when it comes to poinsettias. Because of this, the nation's growers work diligently at developing new shades and colors.
"Each year, consumers really dictate the market and determine what colors sell," says Cowhig who is involved with a major "Poinsettia trial" on the Delaware Valley College campus on November 10. "Women appreciate the ability to coordinate their holiday decorating with their year-round home décor."
Called Christmas Feelings, Marblestar, Champagne Punch, Strawberries and Cream, Shimmer Pink and Snowcap White, the names are nearly as vibrant as the plants themselves.
The poinsettia was first brought to America nearly 200 years ago in its traditional red bouquet. It took the plant more than a century to become the premier holiday symbol in the U.S. In fact, until the 1950s, roses were the favorite holiday flower here and, except for Canada and a few other countries, the poinsettia is still not the current holiday favorite worldwide.
Today the U.S. consumer can purchase a tiny poinsettia plant in a 3-inch pot, an enormous fireplace-sized version with 10-15 flowering bracts or a topiary style which requires skill and time to create. The traditional red poinsettias once seen exclusively in homes until the 1980s have taken on an entirely different dimension than Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, ever imagined when he brought Euphorbia pulcherrima back from Mexico in 1828. And, although they haven't caught on (yet) - there have been some pushes to market poinsettias at other times of year " red, white and blue in July, orange at Halloween.
Despite the trend in multiple color choices, the deep red shades, with their long history, are still the most popular, Cowhig notes. They tend to be the most vigorous plants, lasting in some cases with proper care, through the summer months. Poinsettias with lighter bracts have staying power, too, and will last perfectly through the entire holiday season and into the New Year.
On Saturday, November 12, Delaware Valley College will host its annual Poinsettia and Pansy Open House from 10:00a.m. until Noon in its Arthur Poley Greenhouse Complex. Admission is free. More than 100 varieties of poinsettias will be on display provided by the leading propagators around the world.
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