He took cuttings to send to his plantation in South Carolina, thereby introducing the later-named poinsettia to America. The United States observes National Poinsettia Day on December 12 to honor the life of poinsettia s namesake Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who passed away on December 12, 1851. Most 19th century botanists dismissed poinsettias as a measly weed. Poinsettias, contrary to popular belief, are not poisonous. In the 1970s, Ohio State University conducted a study, revealing that a 50-pound child could eat 500 bracts and only suffer a mild upset stomach.
Poinsettias are very sensitive to cold temperatures.
They begin to wilt if they are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees, even if only for a few minutes. Every state in the United States commercially grows poinsettias. Anderson, Christine and Terry Tischer. Poinsettias, The December Flower. Hong Kong, 1997.