Christmas Cactus or Poinsettias?

First introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first Ambassador from the United States to Mexico, the poinsettia has played a starring role in Christmas celebrations ever since.

The poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves. The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center. The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves that turn color when the plant flowers. When buying a poinsettia, make sure it has buds, preferably not yet open.