Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a popular flowering plant found in many American homes at Christmas. The poinsettia is native to southern Mexico and is named after Joel R. Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the U.S. in 1825. Poinsettias are usually red, but are also available in white, pink, peach, and a variety of other colors. The brightly colored “flowers” of the plant are called bracts, which are actually modified leaves. The real flowers are the tiny yellow blooms at the center of the bracts.