Holiday flower favorites in bloom at Peoria’s Luthy Botanical Garden

PEORIA (25News Now) – You may think Christmas trees are the main plant of the holiday season, but there’s another favorite in the spotlight at Peoria’s Luthy Botanical Garden where the annual Poinsettia Show is underway.

Most Poinsettias are red, but other colors like pink are popular, too. They have an association with the end of the year for a reason. They thrive in darkness, a trait shared by many plants that bloom in the fall.

“They need a long night or a short day to turn those vibrant colors, which we think they are the petals of a flower, but really they’re the leaves that turn colors,” said Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, a horticulture educator at University of Illinois Extension.

Only the bead-like structures in the center of the plant are the flower. The colorful leaves probably attract pollinators. The green leaves make sugar for the plant.

The plants come from Mexico. Aztecs used them to make dyes and medicine. The first US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, brought them to the US. The plants’ English name comes from him.

If people keep Poinsettias in their homes, they can last for a long time if they don’t get too warm and if they’re able to drain. Taking holiday paper off or making a drainage hole can help with this.

At the Botanical Garden, where viewing plants is free for everyone, there are dozens on display.

“You’ll see a lot of Poinsettias, you’ll see some Christmas trees, and decorations and lights and it’s really kind of a different way to light up the conservatory and really add some nice elements for the holiday season,” said Nick Conrad, Superintendent of Community and Special Events at Peoria Park District.

The Poinsettias will be on display until Dec. 30. The Garden is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. There are extended hours during the Luthy Lights event.

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