Poinsettias. A South Carolina Lowcountry Story – by Kimberly Duncan.
This quintessential Christmas flower has roots far removed from the Palmetto state. Even so, these “flowers of the holy night” are irrefutably tied to our South Carolina Lowcountry. Their story is yet another piece of history that makes our area such a rich place to explore.
Born in 1779, Joel Roberts Poinsett lived on White House Plantation, tucked between the Black and Pee Dee Rivers only a few miles from Georgetown. He was a SC legislator and Congress member and Secretary of War under President Martin Van Buren. He was also the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and a botanist, too.
During his time in Mexico, Poinsett’s avid interest in botany gave rise to long walks through the countryside looking for new plant species. Late in the 1820s, he was thrilled to discover a wild but beautiful shrub with large red flowers. He brought cuttings of the plant back to his greenhouse in SC and began cultivating it to share with neighbors and friends.
Legend traces the story of Poinsettias to a poor Mexican girl who had no gift for the Christ Child. As she walked to the chapel on Christmas Eve. She was filled with sadness until a tender-hearted cousin assured her the humblest gift, given in love, would be acceptable in His eyes.
In a great show of faith, the little girl knelt and fashioned a bouquet of common weeds as she made her way to church. Then, a miracle happened. It is said when the child placed her fistful of weeds at the foot of the nativity, they burst into clusters of brilliant red blooms.
From that day to this, the bright red flowers have been known in Mexico as the Flores de Noche Buena – or Flowers of the Holy Night. They bloom only during the Christmas season. And so, thanks to Joel Poinsett, the vividly colored plant has come to represent the festive mood at Christmas for over 150 years – both in the US and Europe.
Tips for Poinsettia Care:
Poinsettias require moderately moist soil. Check plants daily and water only when the soil feels dry to touch. If the container is wrapped with foil, remove it when watering or make a hole in the bottom for drainage. Plants in clay pots require more water, while those in plastic pots are easily overwatered. Apply water until it runs out the drainage hole, but discard water that collects in the drainage receptacle. Do not allow poinsettias to sit in standing water.
