Poinsettia's Origins and Controversial Namesake Revisited

The holiday plant, known as cuetlaxochitl in Mexico, was introduced to the U.S. and Europe by Joel Roberts Poinsett, a figure with a complex legacy.

The poinsettia, a symbol of the holiday season in the U.S. and Europe, is receiving renewed attention for its origins and the history of its namesake, Joel Roberts Poinsett.
Poinsett, a botanist and statesman, discovered the plant in 1828 during his tenure as the first U.S. minister to Mexico and introduced it to the U.S. and Europe.
The plant's cultivation dates back to the Aztec empire in Mexico 500 years ago, where it is known as the cuetlaxochitl, meaning 'flower that withers'.
In Latin America, the plant is known as the 'flor de Nochebuena', or 'flower of Christmas Eve', and is associated with celebrations of the night before Christmas.
Poinsett's legacy is complicated by his history as a slaveholder and his role in the forced removal of Native Americans, known as the 'Trail of Tears'.