Existing comment:
The Modern Poinsettia:
During the 1800's, the poinsettia was a greenhouse curiosity often used as a short lived, but distinctive, red cut flower. It wasn't until the 1920s and 30s that additional colors were discovered and brought into trade.
Varieties that retained leaves during and after bloom were later developed, leading to a market for potted poinsettias. In the 1960s, the introduction of varieties that produced bushy, compact plants led to mass production and marketing. Radiation exposure of poinsettia tissue in the 1980s led to a proliferation of new color and growth forms available today.
Breeders continue to develop long-lasting poinsettias and more than 100 new cultivars are in development. |