The Christmas holidays are fast approaching but while the weather may have cooled and gardens gone dormant, there is still a wonderful hot color story to tell—a story about poinsettias. The Paul Ecke Ranch, the leader in the poinsettia industry, has many interesting tales to tell (and pictures to share). Did you know…

• Over 75% of the poinsettias grown in North America–and 50% grown in the world–get their start at the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas.
• Red is traditional and the best selling color with about 74% of the market but new and exciting colors are growing in popularity. New recently is Plum Pudding™, the first purple poinsettia. How we develop these new colors is a great story in itself.
• The wide variety of poinsettia colors lets consumers choose a plant that not only clearly says “Christmas is here!” but matches their individual décor. Try Freedom™ Salmon and Snowcap for a Southwest color scheme. Plum Pudding or Cranberry Punch™ for jewel tones or the variegated foliage of Holly Point™ and Heirloom™ varieties for folks with a fondness for pattern. There’s even a variety that is shaped like a rose!
• Poinsettias come in many forms. The traditional single pinched potted plant is most common but there are many others such as topiary trees, hanging baskets, and multiple plants up to a dramatic tub with 9 multi-branched plants. Mini poinsettias with self watering wells are perfect for place settings or gifts for a child’s teacher.
• How do you care for your poinsettia plant? How long will it last? Poinsettia plants can last for several months if you follow simple care instructions. Tell your readers how to keep their plants healthy and happy before, during and after the holiday season.
• Poinsettias are NOT poisonous. Explore how the myth got started and what the true story really is. Alleviate fears concerning poinsettia safety, documented with third party scientific resources.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Paul Ecke, please contact Leanne Pyle, Marketing Communications, at 760-944-4006 or e-mail mking@eckeranch.com Information can also be found at our consumer website, www.pauleckepoinsettias.com.

Story Idea #1

The Paul Ecke Ranch web site on poinsettias is very well attended, and as a result we are privileged to be a focal point for much poinsettia history.

Hot this year has been the raging controversy of how the poinsettia was introduced into the US and Europe markets. We would like to thank William LeFevre, Executive Director of the John Bartram Association and America’s oldest living botanical garden, the Historic Bartram’s Garden, for helping us set the story straight.

As many know – Joel Roberts Poinsett is credited with bringing the poinsettia to the attention of top botanists of his day. Less well understood is how the plants entered the US and European commercial trades.

Seeds and plants of these early poinsettias were sent by Poinsett to a commercial nursery in Philadelphia – not to John Bartram as the story has been told – but to a Col. Robert Carr who was married to John Bartram’s granddaughter Ann Bartram Carr. Robert Carr then introduced the poinsettia into commercial trade from Bartram’s Garden on June 6th, 1829 at “the first semi-annual Exhibition of fruits, flowers, and plants, of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society” – the inaugural show of the now 175 year old Philadelphia Flower Show.

Col. Carr exhibited “A new Euphorbia with bright scarlet bracteas or floral leaves, presented to the Bartram Collection by Mr. Poinsett, United States Minister of Mexico”

Given the poison myth that surrounds the crop – and the similarity to the name Poinsett to Poison – it is a shame that we did not name the plants after Mr. Carr – a Carrietta would sound much less dangerous.

For more information of the history, tradition and care of our countries favorite potted plant – please go to www.pauleckepoinsettias.com.

Story Idea #2

How do we breed new poinsettias?

Each year the breeding staff of the Paul Ecke Ranch evaluates thousands of new seedlings – looking for that elusive ‘look’ that will be the next important poinsettia.

Paul Ecke Ranch began breeding poinsettia in 1960. Up until that time Mr. Ecke would walk through the fields looking for natural mutations (or sports) that he would consider improvements over existing commercial varieties. In 1960 the Ranch started doing specific crosses – moving the pollen from one plant with desired characteristic to the female nectary of another plant. These crosses yielded seed that would get planted – then the seedlings would bloom the next Christmas and the plants would be evaluated.

Today, Dr. Ruth Kobayashi and her staff look over the seedling crop and match each seedling against a list of desirable attributes. The ‘lucky’ plants are then moved on into further rounds of evaluations. Ruth generally will keep one plant out of a hundred for future tests.

Desirable characteristics include:
New bract colors – purple today is all the rage with Plum Pudding a new color in demand.
Easy to care for plants at home – with strong dark leaves often being an indicator of a plant that will have good home performance – Freedom and Prestige are good examples of plants that do well at home.
Fun new looks – such as the curled bract of Winter Rose or the novel look of Jester Red.

For more information on the new poinsettias from Paul Ecke Ranch – please look at www/pauleckepoinsettias.com

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