If you are lucky, you will have the opportunity to see a real plant trial. One of my favorites is Poinsettia trials. Many of the poinsettia varieties I like are from Ecke Ranch. After noticing my favorites were from the ranch I decided to do some research. In today’s post, Fun Facts About The Poinsettia and Ecke Ranch
Fun Facts About Ecke Ranch
I can remember my first trip to the San Diego area and searching for the Botanical Garden. Not too far from that location was ‘Ecke Ranch’. Little did I know we were so close to such a historical place where all the Poinsettias were ‘born’.
The poinsettia plant, to botanists, is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima. But to everyone else, the flower that curiously blooms in the winter is synonymous with the holidays — and that’s largely due to a Southern California farmer: Paul Ecke Sr.
Paul Ecke Sr. would pack dormant plants in a suitcase and go visit growers across the country in the 1920s and teach them how to grow the product. Paul Ecke Jr. played an important part in bringing the poinsettia to television having the plant featured on shows like Andy Williams and Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the 1960s.
Ecke is the world’s largest supplier of poinsettia genetics, commanding nearly 70% of the global market, and is the primary holder of varietal patents. Ecke is also one of the largest suppliers of spring annual products. Although founded in the San Diego County community of Encinitas, Ecke currently maintains key production facilities in Guatemala and Mexico, as well as supplemental locations throughout the United States and Canada.
The poinsettia farming empire in Southern California which, at one point, controlled 90% of the market. Poinsettias went from near obscurity to a $140 million annual market in the U.S., based on a 2015 analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the latest available. Poinsettias are the second-largest potted flowering plant market. Orchids are the largest selling at $288 million. – According to Investors.com.
About the Poinsettia
Did you know.... the Holiday plant we know as the Poinsettia was used to treat fevers? From its bracts, the Aztecs would extract a purplish dye for use in textiles and cosmetics as well. In fact, it was Joel Roberts Poinsett who was the first Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829) who played a part in bringing the Euphorbia pulcherrima (literally, “the most beautiful Euphorbia”) out of the region.
The images above are courtesy of Ecke Ranch 2013
More Poinsettias
This plant is one of my favorites to grow year-round in Ohio. Be sure to check out other post on my site featuring this amazing and not just for holiday grower.
Let’s Connect
Have you heard of the Ecke Ranch and it’s connection to the Poinsettia? Do you display poinsettias in your home or garden during the Christmas season? Be sure to let me know by commenting on my website.
Happy Holidays and Poinsettia Shopping,
2 Responses
My cousin’s daughter, Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, just published a book from the University of Chicago Press called “Flowers, Guns, and Money – Joel Roberts Poinsett and the Paradoxes of American Patriotism”. She teaches history of capitalism and American economic Development at Miami University Ohio. Very proud of her and happy to live near such a renowned source of the plants.
The book looks fascinating and I would love to do a review of it someday. Flowers, Guns, and Money – Joel Roberts Poinsett and the Paradoxes of American Patriotism”. . I love images in books and would love to know what is instore so do tell if you can!