The vibrant red and green foliage of the poinsettia are familiar sights in homes around the world during the Christmas holiday season. But have you ever wondered how this exotic flowering plant from Mexico became a quintessential symbol of Christmas?

It is a series of intriguing stories full of human drama, mysteries, secrets, challenges, and world domination. One story involves searching out wild poinsettias in the middle of two drug cartel-controlled territories.

Craig McManus, your host of "The Garden Question Podcast", delves into the captivating history, cultivation, selection, and care of poinsettias with Dr. Jim Faust a Professor of Floriculture Physiology from Clemson University in South Carolina.

He does research in greenhouse production of various flowering crops, teaches hydroponics, and greenhouse production courses. He grew his first poinsettia crop in 1986.

Time Line

00:00 Introduction to the Garden Question Podcast

00:38 The Intriguing Story of the Poinsettia

02:02 The History of the Poinsettia

02:09 The Journey of the Poinsettia to the United States

02:50 The Role of Joel Poinsett in the Poinsettia's Journey

07:02 The Evolution of the Poinsettia

07:16 The Shipping Process of Plants in the 1800s

09:56 The Commercialization of the Poinsettia

15:13 The Development of the Modern Poinsettia

18:47 The Challenges of Growing Poinsettias

20:10 The Marketing and Sales of Poinsettias

22:15 The Future of Poinsettias

27:49 The Process of Reblooming a Poinsettia

30:07 The Development of Multi-Branching Poinsettias

34:34 Understanding Plant Patents and Genetic Control

35:06 The Mystery of Free Branching Characteristic in Plants

35:41 The Role of Phytoplasma in Plant Branching

36:06 The Discovery of Grafting Technique for Free Branching

37:15 The Secretive Business of Poinsettia Breeding

38:49 The Impact of Phytoplasma on Poinsettia Breeding

40:02 The Challenges in Poinsettia Breeding

42:19 The Journey of Poinsettia from Cutting to Market

47:26 The Impact of Heat Delay on Poinsettia Growth

49:40 The Adventure of Seeing Poinsettia in Its Native Environment

54:29 The Controversy of Biopiracy in Poinsettia Commercialization

57:53 The Future of Poinsettia Breeding

59:09 Tips for Selecting and Caring for Poinsettias

01:01:47 Debunking Myths about Poinsettias