Euphorbia pulcherrimaWilld . ex-wife Klotzsch
skirt - of - paradise Flower , Christmas Eve Flower , Christmas Flower , Christmas Star , Fire on the Mountain , Fire Plant , Lobster Flower , Mexican Easter Flower , Mexican Flameleaf , Painted Leaf , Poinsettia , Pride of Barbados
Euphorbia coccinea , Euphorbia lutea , Euphorbia poinsettiana , Poinsettia pulcherrima
Photo via growwild.kew.org
Family : EuphorbiaceaeSubfamily : EuphorbioideaeTribe : EuphorbieaeSubtribe : EuphorbiinaeGenus : Euphorbia
Euphorbia pulcherrimais native to the tropic deciduous woods ofMexicoand is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropic regions around the world .
Euphorbia pulcherrimais a shrub or modest tree with branches that bear dark green leaves and bright crimson petal - like bract with tiny yellow flowers in the shopping center . It can grow up to 13 feet ( 4 m ) tall . The leaf are broadly speaking oval with entire margins or more or less lobed , reaching up to 8 column inch ( 20 cm ) in length and 4 inches ( 10 atomic number 96 ) in width . They are attach to the branches by a petiole up to 2 inches ( 5 cm ) long .
The colored bracts are usually ruddy but can be pinkish , orange , pale greenish , cream - gloss , white , or marble . They are narrowly elliptic , up to 2.8 inches ( 7 cm ) foresightful and 0.8 inches ( 2 cm ) astray . The colouring of the bract are make through photoperiodism , which means they need darkness , 12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row , to change the color . The flowers come out in winter . They are grouped within small yellow structures call cyathia , found in the pith of each leaf bunch . The fruits are orbicular 3 - lob capsule and contain gray or light gray seeds .
USDA hardiness zones10a to 11b : from 0 ° F ( −1.1 ° C ) to 50 ° F ( +10 ° C ) .
Euphorbias are very easy to care for . These plant ask a little featherbed to become demonstrate , but once they are , they are self - sufficient . More die from too much care and lacrimation than from neglect . Euphorbias needwell - run out soiland lots of sunlight . They are not particular about soil pH , but they can not tolerate wet soil . Unlike most succulents , Euphorbiadoes not plow retentive periods of drought well . It may call for hebdomadary watering during the summertime . Waterwhenever the soil is dry several inch below the airfoil . water supply deeply , but do n’t let them sit in wet grunge , which can cause root bunkum . bestow some organic thing or plant food to the planting mess . Feed with a half - military strength fertilizer monthly if you are growing them in containers or your stain is poor .
These succulent can be grown from seed , but they can be unmanageable to germinate ( or even find ) . They are usually propagated by cuttings . This can be tricky because of the exuding sap . rout hormone is commend withEuphorbias . They be given to produce trouble - free , but there are a few pests and diseases to be lively for .
See more atHow to acquire and Care for Euphorbia .
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