CReneeArt

I decided to paint poinsettias today after watching a girl paint the same flower six times just to grow her skill. I loved that idea, so I tried it too. I sat down and painted six poinsettias at the same time, layer by layer. Starting with that tiny yellow center, then slowly building out the petals with different shades of red, adding the green leaves, and finally pulling it all together with those little details that make the whole thing bloom.

Somewhere in the middle of brushstrokes, I realized… the only thing I really knew about poinsettias was that I see them everywhere at Christmas. So I decided to learn while I painted, and y’all, these flowers have a story.

They’re actually native to Mexico, where they grow as tall shrubs, sometimes up to 15 feet high. And those bold red “petals”? Not petals at all. They’re bracts, or modified leaves. The true flowers are the tiny yellow buds in the center (which is why we start with that little yellow dot!).

The Aztecs used poinsettias long before Christmas traditions existed, turning them into dyes and medicine. And their connection to Christmas comes from a beautiful Mexican legend: a young girl with nothing to offer Jesus gathered simple weeds in faith… and they miraculously transformed into bright red poinsettias.

The plant was brought to the U.S. by Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1828, which is how it got its name. We even celebrate National Poinsettia Day on December 12. And fun fact, poinsettias are the best-selling potted plant in America, with over 35 million sold each holiday season.

They come in so many colors, pink, white, marbled, speckled, and contrary to the myth, they’re not highly poisonous. They’re considered low-toxicity, so no need to panic if a pet sniffs or nibbles.

By the time I finished all six paintings, I felt like I understood the flower and its meaning a little more. These blooms carry stories of faith, transformation, and beauty blooming from humble beginnings, and honestly, that inspires me.

If you read all this, drop a 🌺 in the comments and tell me your favorite holiday flower.