Plant ID Week 5Plant ID Week 5

Red MapleRed MapleAcer rubrumAcer rubrum

Blooms red in the spring Blooms red in the spring Fall colors: orange, red and yellowFall colors: orange, red and yellow Fast growing, deciduous treeFast growing, deciduous tree Petioles are usually redPetioles are usually red

ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum“mums”“mums”

Garden mumGarden mum Blooms in the fall, commonlyBlooms in the fall, commonly

seen in fall pumpkin scenesseen in fall pumpkin scenes PerennialPerennial Also used as a cut flower by floristsAlso used as a cut flower by florists

PoinsettiaPoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrimaEuphorbia pulcherrima means means “very beautiful” “very beautiful”

Native to MexicoNative to Mexico Natives used it as a dye for clothingNatives used it as a dye for clothing President John Quincy Adams’ President John Quincy Adams’

ambassador to Mexico was Joel Poinsett ambassador to Mexico was Joel Poinsett from SC. (1820's)from SC. (1820's)

He was interested in Botany, so he He was interested in Botany, so he brought cuttings of a poinsettia bush that brought cuttings of a poinsettia bush that he found on the roadside back to the US he found on the roadside back to the US and propagated it.and propagated it.

Poinsettias come in over 100 varietiesPoinsettias come in over 100 varieties

More Poinsettia info…More Poinsettia info… In the 1900's the Ecke family in CA grew In the 1900's the Ecke family in CA grew

the poinsettia in their landscape, then the poinsettia in their landscape, then began growing them in greenhouses for began growing them in greenhouses for Christmas.Christmas.

Ecke Ranch is still in existence & is the Ecke Ranch is still in existence & is the #1 producer of poinsettias in the world, #1 producer of poinsettias in the world, growing 80% of all wholesale plants.growing 80% of all wholesale plants.

Some of our plants came from stock at Some of our plants came from stock at the Ecke Greenhousethe Ecke Greenhouse

In nature (& warmer climates), poinsettias In nature (& warmer climates), poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall. But they are not cold grow to ten feet tall. But they are not cold tolerant.tolerant.

The showy colored parts that looks like The showy colored parts that looks like the flowers are actually colored bracts the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves). (modified leaves).

The flower is the tiny center yellow part The flower is the tiny center yellow part called “cyathia.”called “cyathia.”

The more blooms/leaves, the more The more blooms/leaves, the more expensive the plant. expensive the plant.

Poinsettias are not poisonous.Poinsettias are not poisonous. Poinsettias represent over 85 percent of Poinsettias represent over 85 percent of

the potted plant sales during Christmas the potted plant sales during Christmas with over $220 million in sales yearly.with over $220 million in sales yearly.

Must have plenty of heat (remember Must have plenty of heat (remember they’re cold sensitive)they’re cold sensitive)

Can’t tolerate drought (leaves will yellow)Can’t tolerate drought (leaves will yellow) Tender plants ~ be careful when moving Tender plants ~ be careful when moving

them and watering so you don’t break them and watering so you don’t break stems or leavesstems or leaves