The Poinsettia is thought of as the ultimate Christmas flowering plant!

They originate from Mexico and were introduced into the United States by the first U.S ambassador to Mexico in 1825, a man named Joel Robert Poinsett, therefore getting their common name. The botanical name for the plant is Euphorbia Pulcherrima

The plants' association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale tells that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.

To choose the best Poinsettia, pick a plant with good bright coloured bracts – these are the coloured leaves of the plant, the actual flowers are the tiny yellow centres of the bracts. Red is the most popular coloured bract, but there are different colours now available too.

Look for plants with lots of foliage all the way to the base of the plant. A good healthy plant will have a full look to it.

When taking the plant home, keep it out of the direct sunlight and also intense heat in the car, turn on the air conditioning or open a window if it is a hot day, as this will burn the leaves. This is very important as once it has had direct hot sunlight or heat on it, the leaves can start wilting.

In the home, Poinsettias need to have a good amount of light but out of direct sunlight. They like a warm and well-lit room. Keep it near a sunny window, or on a table in the middle of a sunny room.

Keep the plant out of cool breezes, as they can be sensitive to the cold.

Watering is very important to keep your plant happy and healthy. Poinsettias like to be kept damp, not over wet. Touch the soil with your finger, and if it comes back damp and wet, then the plant is ok. If your finger is dry then water the soil until the water runs freely out of the bottom of the pot. Don’t let the plant sit in water though, water in the sink and then return to its spot once it is drained to be sure to avoid this.

Check your plant for water every couple of days, as there is no rule as to when to water, as the different amount of light/humidity in your house will affect the amount that it will need.

Poinsettias will not need to be fertilised at all when in bloom so plain old water will do all it needs.

Some people can be sensitive to the milky sap that comes from the plant if leaves are broken. It can cause a slight reaction to those allergic to latex, which is what is in the sap.

Poinsettias have been included in a list of the most useful houseplant for removing pollutants from indoor air! So get in store and grab one today for your fresh Christmas look and nice clean indoor air!

Once you have finished with your Poinsettia indoors you can plant them out in your garden. Plant in a shady spot and make sure that you water regularly once it has been planted outside.