December 24, 1999
Web posted at: 2:26 p.m. EST (1926 GMT)

From Correspondent Siobhan Darrow

(CNN) -- The flame-red leaves of the poinsettia are a common sight during the Christmas season in the United States. But many poinsettia lovers may not know much about their favorite holiday flower.

For example, the plants were named after the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico -- Joel Poinsett, who carried them from Mexico to the United States in the 1820's.

And the flowers of poinsettias actually are very small -- it's the leaves that are showy. Poinsettias also come in white, pink, yellow or marbled, but red is the most common color. Left to grow in the wild in their native Mexico, poinsettias may grow 10 feet tall as large, woody shrubs.

VIDEO CNN's Siobhan Darrow goes to a poinsettia farm. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

Before they're sold, some growers put the plants through a kind of poinsettia boot camp to determine if they're sturdy enough to make it through the holiday season.

"If we get a beautiful variety we then test that variety in a torture chamber," said Paul Ecke, who owns the largest poinsettia farm in the United States. Ecke says the plants are tested for their ability to handle hot and cold, too much water and too little water.

"Only the ones that are left standing are the ones that we then introduce into the market," he said.

Ecke knows his poinsettias need to be tough. Many customers lose interest after their holiday parties.

One poinsettia buyer promised to take care of it through Christmas. "And then it will get neglected -- I'm sorry," Betsy Meenk confessed.

But growers are trying to extend the life of the poinsettias -- and increase their profits. They're promoting pink and peach varieties for Mother's Day.

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