Illustration of poinsettia
poinsettia
noun
poin·set·tia
pȯin-ˈse-tē-ə 
nonstandard pȯint-,
nonstandard
-ˈse-tə
: any of several spurges (genus Euphorbia) with flower clusters subtended by showy involucral bracts
especially
: a showy Mexican and Central American plant (E. pulcherrima) with tapering usually scarlet bracts that suggest petals and surround small yellow flowers
Examples of poinsettia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Give all poinsettias a spring trimming; repot new ones or add them to the landscape.
39.
—
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
In the mid-1960s, Edwin Frazee moved his ranunculus and gladiolus to the current location on land owned by the Ecke Family, where poinsettias had been growing.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Plan to water your outdoor poinsettia daily during hot, dry conditions.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2024
The poinsettia may have gotten its bad reputation for being considered poisonous to humans in 1919, according to Harvard Health Publishing, when a child of an army officer was said to have died after consuming a portion of a poinsettia plant.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
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Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
In the mid-1960s, Edwin Frazee moved his ranunculus and gladiolus to the current location on land owned by the Ecke Family, where poinsettias had been growing.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Plan to water your outdoor poinsettia daily during hot, dry conditions.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2024
The poinsettia may have gotten its bad reputation for being considered poisonous to humans in 1919, according to Harvard Health Publishing, when a child of an army officer was said to have died after consuming a portion of a poinsettia plant.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
Cite this Entry
“Poinsettia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poinsettia. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poinsettia
noun
poin·set·tia
pȯin-ˈset-ē-ə
-ˈset-ə
-ˈset-ə
: a showy Mexican and Central American plant with large scarlet bracts that grow like petals about its small yellow flowers
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