Poinsettia Picture Gallery: Get to Know the Christmas Flower with Brilliant Red Bracts

The poinsettia is an evergreen shrub in the genus Euphorbia of the family Euphorbiaceae, also known as the Christmas flower or Christmas red, native to Mexico and parts of Central America. Its ornamental highlight lies in the bracts at the tips of the branches; once the flowering season arrives, the bracts turn from green to red, looking from a distance like blooming flowers. Many people mistake them for petals, but the true flowers are the small cup-shaped cyathia in the center of the bracts.

Among poinsettia pictures, the most common is the classic variety with brilliant red bracts; there are also cultivars with creamy white, pink or variegated bracts. Different varieties differ in bract shape and depth of color, some with large, spreading leaves and others with a compact, dwarf habit, all equally festive when placed on a windowsill or desk.

To grow a poinsettia in good condition, light and temperature are key. The poinsettia likes warmth and ample sunlight, and fears cold and waterlogging, so it needs to be moved indoors for warmth in winter. It is a typical short-day plant; only when the days grow short and the nights long in late autumn do the bracts color up properly. In everyday care, avoid moving it around frequently, lest leaf and bract drop spoil its ornamental value.

One thing to keep in mind is that the white sap inside the poinsettia is somewhat irritating, so it is best to wear gloves when pruning or repotting, and to keep household pets and children from eating it by mistake. Choose a well-ventilated, brightly lit spot for display, which is both safe and helps the bracts keep a more vivid, lasting color, making the pictures you take more photogenic too.