Poinsettias

LITTLE ROCK — Who wouldn’t welcome a blooming plant as a gift?

The red poinsettia still reigns supreme among flowering Christmas-season plants, but if red doesn’t fit your color scheme, you have plenty of other options.

Today, poinsettias naturally come in shades of pink, white, yellow and even purple. Some are variegated while others have curled bracts (the brightly colored leaves that look like petals, designed to attract pollinators). You can even find versions dyed blue and green (which may be going a bit far).

There’s an abundance of size options, from desktop miniatures to standard topiary tree poinsettias.

If you get a poinsettia, the keys to keeping them showy over time are bright light and even moisture. Don’t overdo it with water or they will shed leaves. With proper care, the flamboyant bracts can remain colorful for months, long after you have stored the rest of your decorations.