: any of several spurges (genus Euphorbia) with flower clusters subtended by showy involucral bracts
especially: a showy Mexican and Central American plant (E. pulcherrima) with tapering usually scarlet bracts that suggest petals and surround small yellow flowers
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Use leaves to shape poinsettias: To shape the leaves into poinsettias, pipe small mounds of frosting on top of cake or cupcakes to serve as bases for the poinsettias.—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024 Ecke started growing and selling his poinsettias in a field on Sunset Boulevard but moved to Encinitas around 1923, where Ecke Ranch became the largest poinsettia producer in the world.—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025 The students snap pictures of Spiderman stuffed animals set up in a white box, while across the room other students arrange poinsettias in front of a white poster board for a photo shoot.—Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024 Give all poinsettias a spring trimming; repot new ones or add them to the landscape.
39.—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Joel R. Poinsett †1851 American diplomat
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