Poinsett

Poinsett is a surname and a geographic name in the United States. The most prominent bearer is Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779–1851), an American physician, botanist, and diplomat who served as the United States minister to Mexico from 1822 to 1829. During his time in Mexico he collected plant specimens and introduced the plant that would become known in the United States as the poinsettia, which was first propagated in the United States in 1825. The plant’s common name, poinsettia, honors him.

The name Poinsett has been used for places in the United States, including Poinsett County in Arkansas, which was named in his honor. The surname has appeared in various political, scientific, and cultural contexts, but it is most closely associated with Joel Poinsett’s diplomatic career and botanical legacy.

The poinsettia itself is a perennial shrub native to southern Mexico and northern Central America, notable for its bright red, pink, or white bracts that surround the true flowers. It remains a popular decorative plant during the winter holiday season and has become a symbol of Christmas in the United States and many other countries.