Growers use an exacting process of light and darkness control to trigger bracts to color up, so what you see at the garden center is what you get. The flower clusters in the center of the bracts should have little or no pollen showing to guarantee the longest lasting flowers. If you aren’t sure which poinsettia varieties to buy to fill up your rack, consult the National Poinsettia Cultivar Trials. Here, you can tap into the research and testing efforts of three universities and five breeders to discover the best poinsettia varieties for decorating and gift-giving.
