National Poinsettia Day Dec 12, 2025

National Poinsettia Day

Some plants simply sit quietly on windowsills. The poinsettia? It demands the spotlight. Bright, bold, and as red as Rudolph"s nose, this December diva even has its own holiday—National Poinsettia Day, celebrated on December 12. Prior to becoming a popular Christmas decoration, this shrub had quite a journey. Long before it appeared in living rooms, it grew wild in Mexico, where the Aztecs used it for dyes and medicine. Then, in the 1820s, US diplomat Joel Roberts Poinsett spotted the plant, fell for its charm, and sent it home. The rest, as they say, is history—and botany.

© DigiPub/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Dec 12, 2018The story of the poinsettia
Dec 12, 2019On the lookout for Sheep-Cote Clod
Dec 12, 2020What are we looking at?
Dec 12, 2021Wicker fields in Cañamares, Spain
Dec 12, 2022Poinsettia Day
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettia Day
Dec 12, 2024Poinsettia Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 4, 2020Rock of ages
Aug 22, 2018Summer’s in home stretch
Jun 2, 2019An island for the birds
Jun 5, 2024World Environment Day
Jan 12, 2020The Zugspitze: Germany s highest point
Jan 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
Feb 2, 2024Groundhog Day
Aug 8, 2021Bridge to infinity
Aug 7, 2023National Lighthouse Day
Sep 12, 2025In the Red Sea for World Dolphin Day
Jan 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy
Mar 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, Australia
Mar 29, 2021Rising up from the black sand like rock gods
Feb 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
Apr 20, 2025Happy Easter!
May 10, 2022Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Jan 26, 2022India Republic Day
Apr 12, 2021In orbit for Yuri s Night
Jan 10, 2023Lake Peipus, Estonia
Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
Sep 3, 2025Annivesary of the Wilderness Act of 1964
Oct 23, 2022Mute swan
Jan 13, 2019On the hunt
Jun 5, 2025World Environment Day
Jan 31, 2024International Zebra Day
May 16, 2025Endangered Species Day
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Dec 3, 2022Art Basel Miami Beach
Feb 26, 2023Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Jun 9, 2019Crown Fountain by Jume Plensa at Millennium Park in Chicago