# Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/poinsettia · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/poinsettia)

Poinsettia · بنت القنصل  
indoor · exotic · family Euphorbiaceae · grows 0.1–0.6 m tall, 0.1–0.6 m wide · moderate growth  
part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 2 · drought 2 · shade 3 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Nov–Dec  
Uses: indoor, container

## Also known as

- **English:** Christmas star, Christmas flower, Christmas plant, Painted leaf, Flame-leaf flower, Mexican flame leaf
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Poinsettia pulcherrima*, *Euphorbia coccinea*
- **Arabic (العربية):** بنت القنصل, بو كريمة (bu karima), بنت كريمة (bint karima)
- **Hindi (हिन्दी):** लाल पते (lal pate)
- **Malayalam (മലയാളം):** പോയിൻസെറ്റിയ (Poinsettia)
- **Tamil (தமிழ்):** பொய்ன் செட்டியா (Poinsettia)
- **Tagalog:** Paskuwa, Paskuwas
- **Bengali (বাংলা):** লালপাতা (lalpata)
- **Persian (فارسی):** سرخ‌برگه (sorkh-barge), گل کریسمس (gol-e kerismas)

The red-bracted Christmas plant that reaches Dubai shops in November. It wants bright light, no cold draughts and a pot that is never soggy. The sap irritates, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to pets.

## About

Meet poinsettia, the plant that arrives in Dubai garden centres and shops as the weather cools in November. Its red, pink, cream or speckled "petals" are not flowers at all but bracts, which are modified leaves. The true flowers are the small yellow buttons at their centre.

It is a tender plant that sulks in the cold. The RHS gives a minimum of 13 to 16°C, and a poinsettia that has been chilled drops its leaves and bracts and keeps declining. The likely chills in a Dubai home are a cold vent, the glass of a window on a winter night, or a spot in a draught. The RHS suggests a table a little away from a bright window.

Most are bought as a seasonal gift and enjoyed through the festive weeks. Keeping one for next year is possible, but the RHS says it needs eight to ten weeks of short days with no light at night to colour up again, so many people simply buy a new plant each year. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to pets, but names an irritant sap and calls the toxicity generally over-rated.

Poinsettia (*Euphorbia pulcherrima*) is a spurge from Mexico and Central America, sold worldwide as a Christmas houseplant. The coloured parts are bracts in red, pink, burgundy, salmon and cream (RHS), and the true flowers are the small yellow structures at their centre (NC State). The RHS gives its size as typically 60 cm high by 30 cm wide, with mini plants about 10 cm tall.

The RHS says poinsettias are on sale in full colour from November to Christmas, and Plantsworld and Greensouq already listed them in Dubai in late October 2026. Light and temperature decide how long it lasts. The RHS wants bright light out of direct sun and a minimum of 13 to 16°C, below which the plant suffers physiological shock and drops leaves and bracts. NC State says to keep it away from heat vents and cold draughts, and to water when the soil surface feels dry without overwatering.

On pets, the ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The toxic principle is an irritant sap that irritates the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting, and the ASPCA says the plant's toxicity is generally over-rated. NC State says a significant amount would have to be eaten before even a mild stomach ache, and that the white sap can affect people with a latex allergy. The RHS advises avoiding contact with the milky sap, which can irritate skin and eyes.

Most poinsettias are discarded a few weeks into the new year, and the RHS says they are cheap enough to treat like a bunch of flowers. A plant can be grown on, but colour is triggered by short days: on average 8 to 10 weeks of less than 12 hours of light, with no artificial light at night, from late September. Commercially grown plants are often treated with growth suppressants, so a plant grown on at home grows taller.

## Indoors in Dubai

- **Light:** grows well in bright indirect light. Bright light but not direct sun: a table a little back from a window (RHS). Keep it off cold glass at night, since it needs at least 13 to 16°C.
- **Dry air and air conditioning:** tolerance 2 out of 5 (1 = needs humidity help, 5 = indifferent). Keep it out of a vent's airflow: below 13 to 16°C it drops leaves and bracts (RHS). Water only when the surface feels dry, and let the pot drain before it goes back in its decorative pot.
- **Pets:** not pet-safe: keep it out of reach of cats and dogs.
- **Size:** tabletop.
- **Rooms:** living room, home office.
- **Finding it in Dubai:** seasonal: mainly on sale at certain times of year (gift season, for example).
- **Outdoors:** never: keep it indoors all year.

## Through the year

In Dubai poinsettia is a plant for the cool months. Plants are on sale in full colour from November to Christmas (RHS), and Plantsworld and Greensouq already listed them in late October 2026. The RHS gives December to January as the natural flowering time, and most plants are discarded a few weeks into the new year. To keep one, the RHS says to prune it hard in April to about 10 cm, repot it in early May and grow it on in a light, cool place, with 15 to 18°C ideal for the summer. Dubai's average highs run about 40 to 42°C from June to September, so a kept plant belongs indoors. From late September it needs 8 to 10 weeks of short days with no artificial light at night, and about 18°C, to colour up for the next Christmas.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nov–Dec | Plant: Buy in colour | The RHS says plants are on sale in full bloom from November to Christmas, and Plantsworld and Greensouq listed poinsettia in Dubai in late October 2026. Choose a full plant with no fallen leaves or bracts: the RHS says one that is already drooping in the shop will keep declining. |
| Nov–Jan | Flowers: Bracts in colour | The RHS gives December to January for flowering, with colour set by short days. Plants sold in November are already coloured, and most are discarded a few weeks into the new year. |
| Nov–Feb | Leaf drop: Leaf and bract drop in a chill | The RHS gives a minimum of 13 to 16°C; cooler air causes physiological shock and the plant drops leaves and bracts. Keep it off cold glass at night and out of a vent's airflow (NC State). |
| Apr | Prune: Cut back hard if keeping it | The RHS says to prune to about 10 cm in April, keep it around 13°C, and repot in early May. Skip this if you plan to buy a new plant next year. |
| Jun–Sep | Heat stress: Keep a saved plant indoors | The RHS gives 15 to 18°C as ideal for a kept plant over summer. Dubai's average highs are about 40 to 42°C from June to September, so never leave it on a balcony. |
| Dec–Mar | Pest watch: Check under the leaves | NC State lists mealybugs, red spider mites, scale and whiteflies as the pests to monitor, and root and stem rot from overwatering. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** If you keep a plant through summer indoors, water only when the surface feels dry and never leave the pot standing in water.
- **Watering in winter:** Water sparingly while it is in colour: overwatering damages the plant (RHS) and causes root and stem rot (NC State). Humidity extends the display (RHS), so keep it out of the direct blast of the AC.
- **While establishing:** Water only when the surface of the compost has begun to feel dry (RHS). Stand the pot in a bowl of tepid water for 10 to 20 minutes, lift it out, let it drain fully and return it to its decorative pot.
- **Soil:** A peat-free multipurpose compost in a pot that drains (RHS). NC State suggests a well-drained mix of loam, organic matter and peat moss.
- **Feeding:** None while it is in colour. The RHS says to feed only if you keep the plant for the new year, with a high-potassium feed such as tomato feed once a month.
- **Pruning:** None needed for a plant bought in colour. If keeping it, the RHS says to prune hard in April to about 10 cm. The stems are brittle (NC State), so handle it gently, and wear gloves because of the sap.
- **Planting:** There is usually no need to repot during the festive season (RHS). Buy in November or December, when plants are on sale in full colour. If keeping it, repot in early May into peat-free compost mixed with grit (RHS).
- **Pests and problems:** Mealybugs; Red spider mites; Scale insects; Whiteflies; Root and stem rot from overwatering
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, but the toxic principle is an irritant sap that irritates the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting. The ASPCA says the plant's toxicity is generally over-rated, and NC State says a significant amount would have to be eaten before even a mild stomach ache. The white sap can cause reactions in people with a latex allergy (NC State), and the RHS advises avoiding contact with it because it can irritate skin and eyes. Keep it out of reach of pets and children, and call a vet if a pet has eaten a lot of it or seems unwell.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Bracts in red, pink, cream or speckled colours, sold ready-coloured from November
- Cheap enough to treat like a bunch of flowers: about AED 55 in late October 2026
- Compact: a 30 to 40 cm plant suits a table, console or entrance
- Low-effort for the festive weeks: bright light, a little water and no feeding
- The ASPCA calls the sap an irritant and the plant's toxicity generally over-rated

**Cons**
- Drops leaves and bracts below 13 to 16°C or in a cold draught (RHS)
- Milky sap irritates skin and eyes, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to pets
- Roots and stems rot if the pot stays wet (NC State)
- Colouring up again needs 8 to 10 weeks of short days with no light at night (RHS)

## Common mistakes

- Buying a drooping plant. The RHS says one that is already wilting or dropping leaves in the shop will keep declining at home. Pick a full plant with no fallen leaves or bracts.
- Putting it in a cold draught or in the airflow of an AC vent. Below 13 to 16°C the RHS says it drops leaves and bracts, and NC State says to keep it away from heat vents and cold draughts.
- Overwatering. The RHS says to water sparingly, only when the surface of the compost feels dry. NC State warns that wet roots and stems rot.
- Setting it in direct sun on a window sill. The RHS wants bright light but out of direct sunlight, and NC State says it grows best in part shade.
- Handling the sap bare-handed or leaving it where pets chew it. The sap irritates skin and eyes (RHS), and the ASPCA lists the plant as toxic to dogs and cats.

## Good to know

- The coloured "petals" are bracts, modified leaves in red, pink, burgundy, salmon and cream. The true flowers are the small yellow structures at their centre (RHS, NC State).
- The ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, but names an irritant sap as the toxic principle and calls its toxicity generally over-rated. NC State says a significant amount would have to be eaten before even a mild stomach ache.
- Colour is set by short days: the RHS says on average 8 to 10 weeks of less than 12 hours of light, with no artificial light at night. Covering the plant or moving it to a dark room after 12 hours of daylight from late September is how growers do it.
- The English name comes from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, who sent plants home in the 1820s (Wikipedia).
- Dubai prices checked on 29 October 2026: AED 55 at Plantsworld, and AED 55 to 85 at Greensouq for a Titan Red listed at 30 to 40 cm, on sale from AED 90 to 105.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Festive table centrepiece, Entrance or console accent, Gift plant, Group of mini plants

Put poinsettia where it gets bright light but no direct sun, and no cold air: the RHS suggests a table a little away from a window in a living room, and warns against sills with cold night air behind curtains, draughty hearths and unheated rooms. A single full plant works on a console or coffee table. A group of mini plants 10 to 15 cm tall in one bowl is the RHS's alternative, using a peat-free multipurpose compost in a container that drains. Keep it out of reach of pets and wash your hands after handling it.

- [Phalaenopsis orchid](https://plantguide.ae/plants/moth-orchid.md): A white orchid beside a red poinsettia makes a festive pair. Both want bright light without direct sun, though the orchid is listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic and poinsettia is not.
- [Bromeliad](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bromeliad.md): Bromeliad is another colourful gift plant for a bright room. Guzmania is listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic, so it suits a home with pets better.
- [Kalanchoe](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kalanchoe.md): Kalanchoe flowers in red, orange and pink through the same winter months, and likes a sunnier window and drier air. Both are listed by the ASPCA as toxic to pets, so keep the pair out of reach.

## FAQ

**Is poinsettia poisonous to cats and dogs?**  
The ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, but the toxic principle is an irritant sap. It irritates the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting, and the ASPCA says its toxicity is generally over-rated. Keep it out of reach, and call a vet if a pet has eaten a lot or seems unwell.

**When can I buy poinsettia in Dubai?**  
The RHS says plants are on sale in full colour from November to Christmas, and Plantsworld and Greensouq already listed poinsettia in late October 2026, at AED 55 (Plantsworld) and AED 55 to 85 (Greensouq). Pick a full plant with no fallen leaves or bracts.

**Why is my poinsettia dropping leaves?**  
Cold is the commonest cause. The RHS says that below 13 to 16°C the plant suffers physiological shock and drops leaves and bracts, and that a plant chilled in the shop keeps declining. NC State adds cold draughts, heat vents and overwatering. Move it away from vents and cold glass and water only when the surface feels dry.

**How do I look after a poinsettia in an air-conditioned flat?**  
Give it bright light out of direct sun, keep it out of the airflow of the vent, and water sparingly, only when the surface of the compost has begun to feel dry. Stand the pot in tepid water for 10 to 20 minutes, let it drain fully and put it back. Do not feed it while it is in colour (RHS).

**Can a poinsettia live on a balcony in Dubai?**  
It is sold as a houseplant. The RHS says it needs at least 13 to 16°C and bright light out of direct sun, and Dubai's average January night is 15.3°C, so a balcony is a gamble. In summer, average highs of about 40 to 42°C are far above the 15 to 18°C the RHS calls ideal. Keep it indoors.

**Can I get a poinsettia to colour up again next Christmas?**  
It is possible but takes effort. The RHS says to prune it to about 10 cm in April, repot in May, and from late September give it 8 to 10 weeks of less than 12 hours of light a day, with no artificial light at night, and about 18°C. Many people buy a new plant each year instead.

## Related plants

[Kalanchoe](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kalanchoe.md) · [Phalaenopsis orchid](https://plantguide.ae/plants/moth-orchid.md) · [Bromeliad](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bromeliad.md) · [African violet](https://plantguide.ae/plants/african-violet.md)

## Photos

![Red poinsettia in a pot, with red bracts around small yellow flowers](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Poinsettia.jpg)  
Photo: Mervat Salman / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poinsettia.jpg))

![Close-up of red poinsettia bracts and green leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Natural_background_of_poinsettia_flowers_%2855010728205%29.jpg)  
Photo: AS Photography / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Natural_background_of_poinsettia_flowers_(55010728205).jpg))

![White and red-speckled poinsettias on display](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Poinsettias.jpg)  
Photo: Kifrank / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poinsettias.jpg))

![Cream, pink and red poinsettia varieties on sale at a garden centre](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Poinsettia_varieties.JPG)  
Photo: Andy Mabbett / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poinsettia_varieties.JPG))

## Sources

- [RHS: How to grow poinsettias](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/euphorbia/poinsettia/growing-guide)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Euphorbia pulcherrima](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-pulcherrima/)
- [ASPCA: Poinsettia](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/poinsettia)
- [Plantsworld: Poinsettia - Christmas Flower Plant (Dubai shop listing, price checked 29 October 2026)](https://plantsworld.ae/products/poinsettia-christmas-flower-plants-online-in-dubai-uae)
- [Greensouq: Euphorbia Pulcherrima (Titan Red) Or Poinsettia 30-40cm (Dubai shop listing, price checked 29 October 2026)](https://www.greensouq.ae/products/euphorbia-pulcherrima-titan-red)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Euphorbia pulcherrima](https://www.gbif.org/species/207029480)
- [POWO (Kew Plants of the World Online): Euphorbia pulcherrima](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30176564-2)
- [Wikipedia: Poinsettia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poinsettia)
- [Wiktionary: poinsettia (synonyms Christmas star, Mexican flame leaf)](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/poinsettia)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991 to 2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: بنت القنصل (lead gives بو كريمة and بنت كريمة)](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D8%B5%D9%84)
- [Persian Wikipedia: سرخ‌برگه (lead gives گل کریسمس)](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AE%E2%80%8C%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D9%87)
- [Hindi Wikipedia: भारतीय पेड़ों पौधों तथा फूलों के नामों की बहुभाषी सूची (लाल पते)](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A5%9C%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82_%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%AB%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87_%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%80)
- [Bengali Wikipedia: লালপাতা](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE)
- [Malayalam Wikipedia: യൂഫോർബിയ പുൾചെറിമ](https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%AB%E0%B5%8B%E0%B5%BC%E0%B4%AC%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AF_%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%81%E0%B5%BE%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%B1%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AE)
- [Tamil Wikipedia: பொய்ன் செட்டியா](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BE)
- [Tagalog Wikipedia: Paskuwa (bulaklak)](https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paskuwa_(bulaklak))