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By: Dave Zeldon and Ely Schweyer

If you’ve ever wondered how the warm weather succulent came to be a seasonally regarded indoor plant, or how to keep one going, read on!

History and Cultural Significance

The Poinsettia was named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Minister to Mexico. He introduced this native Mexican the United States in 1828. In the Mexican Christmas tradition, the star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red colour represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.

   Since the species is native to Mexico and found in the wild in deciduous tropical forest at moderate elevations, we then have a challenge to keep this plant alive and in a healthy form in our colder, northern climate.

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It's Just A Rumour!

There is a common misconception that the poinsettia is highly toxic. This is not true.

   Yes, it may be mildly irritating to the skin or the stomach if it is eaten, but otherwise, there have been no documented cases of poisoning. The origin of this myth could be found in the fact that most plants of the spurge genus (Euphorbia) are indeed toxic. Fortunately, this family member is a good one!

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Here are Some Helpful Hints to Get the Most Longevity Out of Your Plant:

☝️Unsleeve the plant as soon as possible as the leaves may become droopy if left too long in the wrapper. Fortunately, the plant should recover in a few days if this does occur.

☝️If you want to try to keep your plant until next Christmas then fertilize after the blooming season with an all-purpose fertilizer, repot it later in the early Summer and then introduce it to 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness come September.

For more information on Poinsettia care (i.e., temperature, lighting, and watering), visit Ava's blog Caring for Poinsettias.

If you’re looking for more information – or perhaps a Poinsettia – visit Eising Greenhouse and Garden Centre! Happy Holidays! ✨

Dealing with water restrictions or choosing to conserve water? You’re not alone. Many gardeners in Norfolk County are facing the challenge of keeping gardens thriving with less water. The good news? A lush, colourful garden is still within reach—thanks to drought-tolerant perennials.

When we think of drought-tolerant plants, cacti might be the first thing that comes to mind. But there’s a surprising variety of beautiful, hardy perennials that can handle our region’s dry spells—no desert landscape required.

While these plants do need regular watering when first planted, once established, they’re low-maintenance and well-suited to Southern Ontario’s climate, including periods of limited rainfall.

Full Sun Ground Cover

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Common Name: Dusseldorf Pride Sea Thrift
Botanical Name: Armeria maritima 'Dusseldorf Pride'
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Common Name: Fire Spinner Ice Plant
Botanical Name: Delosperma 'Fire Spinner'
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Common Name: Donkey-Tail Spurge
Botanical Name: Euphorbia myrsinites

Full Sun, Medium to Tall Plants

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Common Name: Dark Towers Beard Tongue
Botanical Name: Penstemon 'Dark Towers'
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Common Name: Oriental Poppy
Botanical Name: Papaver orientale
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Common Name: Big Blue Sea Holly
Botanical Name: Eryngium 'Big Blue'

Full Sun Grasses

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Common Name: Blue Fescue
Botanical Name: Festuca glauca
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Common Name: Prairie Fire Red Switch Grass
Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Fire'
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Common Name: Karl Foerster Reed Grass
Botanical Name: Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

Groundcover for Shade

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Common Name: Domino Barrenwort
Botanical Name: Epimedium 'Domino'
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Common Name: Canadian Wild Ginger
Botanical Name: Asarum canadense
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Common Name: Canada Anemone
Botanical Name: Anemone canadensis

Medium to Tall Plants for Shade

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Common Name: False Solomon's Seal
Botanical Name: Maianthemum racemosum
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Common Name: Variegated Solomon's Seal
Botanical Name: Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'

Ferns for Dry Shade

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Common Name: Christmas Fern
Botanical Name: Polystichum acrostichoides
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Common Name: Male Fern
Botanical Name: Dryopteris filix-mas
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Common Name: Marginal Wood Fern
Botanical Name: Dryopteris marginalis

A Little TLC

It doesn’t take much to keep drought-tolerant plants thriving—just a little attention and some seasonal TLC. While they’re tough, even these hardy perennials appreciate an occasional deep watering during extended dry spells, especially in their first year.

For sun-loving perennials, skip the heavy fertilizers. Instead, an annual layer of compost is all they need to stay healthy and strong.

Shade-loving drought-tolerant plants, on the other hand, benefit from a layer of mulch. This helps retain moisture and reduces evaporation, especially in dry shade, which is one of the most challenging conditions for any plant to thrive in.

And don’t forget to deadhead regularly! Removing spent blooms encourages your plants to keep producing flowers instead of going to seed, meaning more colour, for longer.

With a few simple care tips, your drought-tolerant garden can remain beautiful and resilient throughout the entire season.

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