What is it? The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family.It's a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 0.6–4 metres. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves. The colored bracts—which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled—are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves. Although poinsettias are perennials in warmer climates, most people are likely to see them used as a decorative houseplant over the winter holidays. History The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize