For the Aztecs, poinsettia spiritual meaning and symbolism was purity. The Aztecs cultivated the poinsettia for both decorative and medicinal purposes. Poinsettia are native to Mexico and grow as a large flowering shrub. Poinsettia meaning varies somewhat in different cultures.

Ancient Poinsettia History and Symbolism

The Aztecs used poinsettia to produce red dye and also medicinally to reduce fevers. The reddish-purple dye was used in cosmetics and for fabric. The crushed plant was used to treat infections. A medicine could be made from the milky sap of the plant. 

Medicinal Uses of Poinsettia
In addition, the Nepali women of Mexico traditionally made a tea infusion from the sepals (the green bud casing) to aid women who were breastfeeding. They also used the latex from the plant as a remedy for skin boils and sores. Thus the poinsettia were commonly called the “skinflower.”

Meaning of the Name “Poinsettia”
The Aztecs also called the plant “cuetlaxochitl” which means “mortal flower that perishes and withers like all that is pure.” The red part of poinsettia are actually leaves called bracts. The “flower” of the poinsettia is the cluster of buds in the center of these vibrant leaves. 

Modern Poinsettia History

Poinsettia were brought to the west by Joel Poinsett, an ambassador to Mexico in the 1820s. He had a strong interest in plants and sent hundreds of specimens back to America during his travels. Over time, the poinsettia plant was adopted into Christianity. Poinsettia have been primarily cultivated in America for nearly a century. Today, poinsettias are the most easily recognized flower symbolic of Christmas.

Poinsettia Become a Popular Flower
Within a few years of Joel Poinsett bringing the Mexican Flame Leaf to the West, the plant became popular in America and Europe. In the early 1900s, the American market became the primary source and developer of the poinsettia.

Breeders Improve the Poinsettia
Breeders created poinsettia with tighter flower clusters and a more compact size. A popular variety of poinsettias during the 1870s was the “double flowering” plant. The first souble flowering specimen sold for $1000. In today’s money, that would be about $20,000.

Poinsettia and an American Entrepreneur
Albert Ecke was an immigrant who moved from Germany to California in 1906. He and his family grew fruit and vegetables, lived off the land. He began selling poinsettia from a street stand on Sunset Boulevard. At the time, poinsettias were more like a weedy bush, lacking in fullness and definition.

The Success of Poinsettia
However, the stand grew into a thriving business, shipping poinsettia all over the country. The Ecke family had a near monopoly on poinsettia for several decades. Today the Ecke family ranch still accounts for 70% of the pointsettia sold in the United States.