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‘An all-time staple’:

By Walt Frank 3 min read

The poinsettia remains the top selling plant for the Christmas holiday season.

Poinsettias are the best-selling potted plant in the U.S., contributing $250 million to the economy annually, even though the market for them is only about six weeks long, according to the National FFA Organization. More than 35 million potted poinsettias are sold every year in the U.S., accounting for almost one-quarter of the potted plants sold.

The poinsettia has a long history, dating back to the Aztecs in Mexico.

Poinsettias were first introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett. While serving as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, he had occasion to visit Taxco and found the plants growing on adjacent hillsides.

Poinsettias are a big seller for local greenhouses.

Spring Farm Greenhouses in Martinsburg grows and sells about 4,000 poinsettias a year, according to owner Jerry Martin. Their poinsettias come in all different colors, from the standard red to white to pink, among others.

Martin said the plant is more popular and well known among the older generations.

"It is an old-time, traditional thing, they have such a nice color and thus has been going on from year to year," Martin said. "Most young people don't have a clue what a poinsettia is, like the older people do."

Poinsettias are also a big seller at Piney Creek Greenhouses, Martinsburg. Co-owner Lucille Martin said Piney Creek sells a newer version of the poinsettia known as princettias, which tend to be smaller overall and nice for smaller spaces that might be too tiny for the larger poinsettia. The plant has only been on the market for about five years, according to Martin.

"The red poinsettia is an all-time staple, it always sells. We also have poinsettia dyes to make them blue and purple, they are also popular," Martin said. "With proper care they can last all winter."

Poinsettias are also big sellers at area floral shops.

Peterman's Flower Shop, Juniata, orders poinsettias in October and sells between 400 and 500 plants over the Christmas season.

"We have a really nice variety of poinsettias, different colors and varieties. They are popular because of the rich color and they put everyone in mind of the holidays, and they are quite beautiful," owner Andrea Hammel said.

"Poinsettias are a very popular seller for us, they are a tradition for most people that have been buying them for years and are the go to plant that represents Christmas. We have multiple shades. If you want the more unique colors, shop early," said Chelsea Veneskey, operations manager at Kerr's Home and Garden, Hollidaysburg.

The poinsettia, however, is not the only Christmas plant sold this time of year.

At Creative Expressions Florist in Altoona, the focus is on fresh evergreen bouquets and arrangements.

"People want their arrangements to last a long time. With the ever increasing costs of goods. I wanted to be sure my customers have arrangements that last well into the new year. Pines, pinecones, and pods, lots of natural elements that will carry the Christmas magic feeling and at the same time, honor lots of different budgets. My biggest sellers are my boxwood trees which I hand make myself and decorate," owner Debbie Frick Arnsparger said.

"Our big sellers are holiday centerpieces with fresh greens, we also sell a lot of fresh wreaths. We sell some poinsettias but not too many," said owner Amanda Benton of The Tipsy Tulip, Altoona.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.

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