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Throughout North America, poinsettias are everywhere during the holiday season.

But did you know that poinsettias are tropical plants that originated in Central America and tropical Mexico? They grow as unbranched trees as high as 10 feet tall.

Beloved by the Aztecs of Mexico as a symbol of purity, it was Joel Robert Poinsett -- first United States Ambassador to Mexico and renowned botanist -- who introduced them into the United States in 1828.

Since then, the plant's popularity has only grown over the years, to become a symbol of Christmas and a sure sign that the holidays are on their way!

Here are some poinsettia care tips from the Plant Doctors this holiday season:

• Remember to keep your poinsettias in a sunny place for at least six hours each day, but don't let them touch cold windows. A chill will cause the poinsettia to drop it's leaves.

• Keep the soil moist and water when the surface feels dry.

• After blooming is over, fertilizer will help keep the poinsettia healthy and promote new growth throughout the year.

• Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous. The Poisindex Information Service says that even at high doses of ingestion, no toxicity is indicated. However, keeping them away from pets or small children is still a good idea, since they will cause stomach aches if ingested.

source ~The American Phytopathological Society

DID YOU KNOW? Poinsettia fun facts

For the holidays, red poinsettias are the most popular color, followed by white and pink.

• Poinsettia "flowers" are actually colored leaves caled bracts. The tiny yellow buds in the middle are the actual flowers.

• With a special sensitivity to carbon monoxide, poinsettias are a good early warning for the toxic gas caused by faulty furnaces or boilers. If poinsettias are brought inside the house and begin to wilt immediately, it's a good sign you should have your house tested for carbon monoxide.

• In the United States, California is the main producer of poinsettias followed by Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and Michigan.

• Today, poinsettias come in all shapes and sizes ranging from miniature to spectacularly large specimens that can be trained into trees up to 10 feet tall.

• December 12 is National Poinsettia Day which honors the man who introduced the plant to the United States in 1828, Joel Robert Poinsette.

More about poinsettia care around the Web:

Growing and Caring for Poinsettia

Year Round Poinsettia Care