A beautiful oil painting by Teresa Bernard called “Red Poinsettia (The Christmas Flower)” shows how beautiful the well-known Christmas flower is. This one-of-a-kind piece of art really brings out the holiday spirit by focusing on the bright red bracts of the poinsettia against a white background. The intricate rendering of each leaf and petal captures the essence of this famous holiday flower, which stands for happiness and celebration.
This 12×9-inch painting is carefully painted by hand on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas, which gives it a modern and sleek look. The composition extends around the edges, allowing for a frameless display, maintaining a contemporary look. However, if a more traditional display is preferred, it can be beautifully framed to complement any décor style.
This painting comes with an official Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that proves it is real and is signed by Teresa Bernard in the lower left corner. It is ready to hang. “Red Poinsettia” is a great way to bring holiday cheer to your home, office, or any other room that needs a festive focal point. It’s a unique piece that will be loved for many seasons to come thanks to its bright reds and beautiful design.
Should you be an art collector, a fan of holiday decorations, or just someone who loves the delicate beauty of poinsettias, this painting is a classic that will bring warmth and joy to your space.
I love bright red poinsettias so much! They are always in my house during the holidays and make the whole place feel full of holiday cheer. If you came to visit me at Christmas, you’d be greeted by a bunch of these bright flowers that would make my house look happy and red. For me, Christmas simply wouldn’t be complete without the striking contrast of red and green that poinsettias bring. Their bright colors instantly make me feel better, and they fill my whole house with the warmth and magic of the holiday season. Seeing these pretty flowers makes me feel like Christmas and makes me think of all the wonderful traditions that make Christmas so special.
A Beautiful Red Flower for Christmas
The holiday season is a time filled with joy, togetherness, and beauty. One of the most beloved symbols of Christmas is the poinsettia, a stunning red flower that brightens up homes and public spaces during the winter months. With its vibrant color and festive shape, the poinsettia has become a quintessential Christmas decoration and a reminder of the hope and cheer that come with the holidays.
The History and Meaning of the Poinsettia
The poinsettia is native to Mexico, where it grows wild in tropical forests. Its botanical name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, with “pulcherrima” meaning “most beautiful.” The plant was cultivated by the Aztecs, who called it Cuetlaxochitl. When Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico during the 1500s, they incorporated the flower into Catholic Christmas celebrations, and its association with the holiday began.
In the 1820s, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, introduced the plant to the United States. He sent cuttings from Southern Mexico back home to South Carolina, where he began growing the plants and distributing them to botanical gardens and horticultural societies. The flower soon became known as “Poinsett’s flower” and then later “poinsettia,” the common name we use today.
With its bright red color and its bloom time coinciding with Advent and Christmas, the poinsettia took on Christian symbolism. The star-shaped pattern of its bracts (modified leaves) represents the Star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men to Jesus The red color symbolizes Christ’s blood sacrifice. And the plant’s growth cycle, with new plants sprouting from older ones, is seen as a reminder of rebirth and eternal life For all of these reasons, the poinsettia has become a meaningful part of Christmas traditions.
Poinsettia Varieties and Features
There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available today, in colors ranging from the traditional red to pink, white, and bi-colors. While selecting the perfect poinsettia for your home, here are some features to look for:
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Number of blooms – Look for poinsettias with tightly clustered blooms all the way to the ends of the branches. Avoid flowers with a lot of space in between blooms.
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Foliage – Choose plants with dark green, healthy leaves that extend all the way down the stem. Avoid yellowing or spotty leaves.
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Plant form – Opt for poinsettias with symmetric, balanced overall form and branching.
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Bract presentation – Look for bracts that are fully expanded and lie flat rather than curling up or drooping down.
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Longevity – Certain varieties have been bred to last longer, up to 10 weeks or more indoors. Look for “long-lasting” types.
The traditional red varieties remain the most popular poinsettias for Christmas, including ‘Freedom Red,’ ‘Prestige Red,’ and ‘Red Sails.’ If you’d like to branch out beyond red, there are many stunning options like:
- ‘Polar Bear’ – Pure white bracts
- ‘Monet Twilight’ – Pink and white marbled bracts
- ‘Princettia’ – Pink bracts
- ‘Winter Rose’ – Dark pink bracts transitioning to light pink centers
- ‘Mars Red’ – Bright red bracts with white flecks
Caring for Your Poinsettia Plant
To keep your poinsettia thriving and blooming brightly all season long, provide proper care at home:
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Light – Place in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun which can fade the bracts.
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Water – Water when the soil feels dry, and drain any excess water from the saucer. Wilting and dry soil are signs of under-watering.
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Temperature – Keep in a room around 65-75°F. Drafty areas or excessive heat can damage poinsettias.
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Humidity – Increase humidity by placing the pot on a pebble tray with water or misting the leaves occasionally. Low humidity causes leaf drop.
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Fertilizer – Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Stop fertilizing by early December so buds can form.
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Longevity – Once flowering finishes, you can keep a poinsettia around until spring by maintaining cool temps and bright light. Prune back in March.
Gifting and Displaying Poinsettias
Part of the appeal of poinsettias is their versatility – they can brighten up any space with a festive pop of color. Here are some ideas for gifting and incorporating poinsettias into your holiday decor:
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Tie a bow around a poinsettia in a decorative pot for easy holiday gifting. Add a gift tag with a meaningful message.
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Place poinsettias in the center of your holiday dining table as a colorful focal point.
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Arrange poinsettias on your fireplace mantel or hearth among candles, pinecones, and greenery.
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Line your front porch, entryway, or driveway with poinsettias in weather-resistant containers.
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Display poinsettias on side tables, countertops, and other surfaces all around your home.
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Group different colored poinsettias together for visual interest.
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Add Christmas ribbons, ornaments, pine sprigs, or bells to poinsettia pots for extra holiday flair.
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Give poinsettia plants as holiday hostess gifts or for teacher appreciation.
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Donate poinsettias to nursing homes, hospitals, or charity holiday events to spread cheer.
The possibilities are endless when decorating with poinsettias for Christmas. With their vibrant blooms and meaningful symbolism, they are sure to infuse your home with holiday warmth all season long.
Fun Things to Know About the Poinsettia
Poinsettias are associated with Christmas and are also known as the Christmas Star and Christmas Flower. Other than the Christmas tree, there is no other plant that symbolizes Christmas, like the poinsettia.
Poinsettias are perennials that bloom during the winter season. They come in over a hundred different colors, including red, pink, white, and yellow. Varieties within these hues include solids, streaked, marbled, and multicolored. The bright “flowers” are actually changed leaves called bracts. The real blooms are the tiny yellow button-like buds in the middle of the bracts.
A glowing red Christmas tree made almost entirely of beautiful poinsettias
FAQ
Why do we give poinsettias at Christmas?
What is the red flower every Christmas?
How do you take care of poinsettias after Christmas?
What is a beautiful red flower Christmas?
What is the red flower commonly used at Christmas?
The next time someone asks you, what is the red flower commonly used at Christmas, you’ll know to tell them it’s a called a poinsettia. You can also let them know it most commonly it’s delivered in its plant form and not really as a flower by itself.
What is the best Christmas flower?
No red flower could be more loved than the classic red rose. Traditionally the red rose is a symbol of passion and love and can be used as a romantic gesture or a celebratory flower during the winter months. 2. Red poinsettia What’s the ultimate Christmas flower you ask? The rich red poinsettia of course!
Why are they called Red Christmas flowers?
They re frequently just called the red Christmas flowers because that s how socially accepted they are as the premier Christmas flower. Poinsettias are plants with very large oversized blossoming flowers.
Are red flowers good for Christmas?
The colour red and Christmas are two things that go hand in hand. We see so many red flowers used in Christmas displays and as gifts at Christmas. From poinsettias and roses to tulips and lilies, red flowers are perfect for every Christmas occasion and winter birthdays too. When you think of weddings you’ll probably think of pure, white flowers.
What kind of plant has a red flower?
This plant also has a large red budding flower and is frequently given around the holidays as a gift. Red amaryllis plants are slightly harder to find locally but are still favorites for Christmas.
Is there a Christmas plant called Amaryllis?
Amaryllis Plant. The amaryllis plant is also sometimes referred to as the Christmas flower, but is still greatly overshadowed by the poinsettia. This plant also has a large red budding flower and is frequently given around the holidays as a gift. Red amaryllis plants are slightly harder to find locally but are still favorites for Christmas.