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Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia)

Other names: Bird-of-paradise flower, Christmas flower, Christmas star, Fire on the mountain, Fire plant, Lobster flower, Mexican Easter flower, Mexican flameleaf, Painted leaf, pride of Barbados

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Species
E. pulcherrima is a tender evergreen shrub grown as a houseplant. It has dull dark-green leaves and conspicuous red bracts which surround insignificant greenish-red flowers.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.45 m 0.3 m 2-5 years
1 ft 0 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Loamy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a bright, draught-free position, away from direct sunlight and radiators at a constant 20C temperature. Keep compost moist but not waterlogged and give a liquid feed fortnightly.

Suggested uses

Indoor, Conservatory

UK hardiness

H1b

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 11

Sunset zone

13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Inappropriate
Central Valley = Inappropriate
South Coastal = Low
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Low

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Compact

Native to

Mexico

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Sap is a skin irritant

Plant care

Pruning

Pinch out growing tips to maintain a compact habit otherwise it has a tendency to grow long and leggy. Do this with care, as milky sap is a skin irritant.

Propagation methods

Seed

Pests

Glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

Fertilise regularly with liquid feed

Pinch out the stem tips to encourage branching

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil

Apply a fertiliser container grown plants regularly

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (0)

Euphorbia

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Euphorbia pulcherrima with other Shoot members

Re: Ponsettia care

Kathy N
739 0
Hi, Heather,
Yes, E. pulcherrima is one of those types of plants that will get leggy over time. If you add it to your 'Plants I Have' list here on Shoot, you will get instructions on how to pinch branches back to create a fuller, bushier form.
All the best,
Kathy C
Posted: Friday 3rd of February 2012 09:30 PM

Ponsettia care

Heather Badcock
739 1
At present I have one of these plants in a pot. This is the second year and it has got rather "leggy". Is it all right to cut it back? I want to encourage it growth and it does look really lovely in full flower.

Thanks
Posted: Friday 3rd of February 2012 08:15 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 03:18 AM
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