Festive Flora of Guanacaste: Poinsettias
If you have been captivated by large bushes or even fully grown trees adorned with vibrant red leaves this season, there is a good chance you encountered Poinsettias. While potted plants of this kind often evoke the spirit of Christmas, here in Guanacaste, they flourish to a much grander scale than you might be accustomed to seeing. The plant grows year-round, but the flowering of this plant occurs between November and December.
Referred to as the "pastora" in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) hails from southern Mexico and Central America. Flourishing as bushy, deciduous plants, they grace the Central American summer season with vibrant blooms, reaching heights of three meters or more in their natural habitat.
In Costa Rica, this plant is regarded as a cultivated species, although it can also be found growing wild in humid to very humid mountainous ecosystems, ranging between 600 and 1,500 meters (about 4921.26 feet) in elevation, like in the Las Catalinas area. While the red varieties remain the most popular, there are also variations with different hues, including shades of red, pink, yellowish-white, purple, and red with white.
Discover their bold blooms adorning hillsides and homes in the villages surrounding Las Catalinas. In Brasilito, the charming town just a stone's throw away, you can frequently find these festive potted plants available for purchase next to the fruit stand to add a little holiday cheer to your home.