Unique Handmade Poinsettia Christmas Decorations

The single, most easily identifiable symbol of the Christmas season in North America, second only to the jolly man in the red and white suit, is the poinsettia. Mass displays of this flamboyant, semi-tropical bloom appears in almost every store in the country, from early November until well after Christmas.

Simply type the "poinsettia" into your favorite search engine's "images" tab, and you will be amazed at the number of results. Images abound of potted plants, watercolor paintings, Christmas cards, textiles, tree ornaments, silk flowers - almost every way to use a poinsettia as a Christmas decoration that you could possibly imagine.

For a late-comer on the Christmas floral scene, the poinsettia has done very well.

We sing Christmas carols about holly and ivy, but the bright red poinsettia is the real floral king of the season - or queen, depending on your point of view.

Well, I'm sure someone will eventually write a carol about this beautiful plant, but it's very hard to find a rhyme for "poinsettia."

Christmas crafts abound that feature poinsettias. People love to paint pictures of them, make cards that feature them, and paint them on Christmas ornaments.

The poinsettia is a favorite patterns for hand-painting on glass and ceramic Christmas balls.

One of my favorite classes to teach in November was making hand-painted ornaments. Without fail, every year one of the most requested patterns would be the poinsettia.

There's just something about this flower in all its glorious, exuberant color that grabs the eye and imagination.

Perhaps, for us in the north, the bright colors are such a relief from the ever-present white.

Just to catch a glimpse of the delicate blossoms glowing vividly against the snow - it's a bit like lighting a candle and placing it in the window.

The candle holds a promise of warmth, much as the delicate yet sturdy poinsettia flower seems to hold out the promise of coming Spring.

I am told that poinsettias grow wild in Hawaii - perhaps that is what they are for us northern birds...a beacon of sandy beaches, warm breezes and long walks by the azure seas of the "Vacation Islands."

Whether you are looking for Christmas tree ornaments, hand-quilted decor, place-mats and napkins, or special seasonal dinner-ware, you are certain to find at least one offering that is decorated with poinsettias.

...and there are so many lovely varieties of the real plant now available in North America. The poinsettia is second only to the rose in both popularity and number of plants cultivated each year.

Available in a rainbow of colors and patterns - yes, patterns - traditional red, though still the single most popular color, is now closely followed by white, pink, an amazing multi-tonal golden, orange, and "peppermint striped" - actually a charming white-flecked bract. The bracts (or red leaves) come with plain or ruffled edges, and in shiny or rich, matte velvet tones.

The poinsettia, once the humble roadside weed, has grown into a seasonal giant - for many, an enduring symbol of the Christmas season.