Poinsettia Meaning Flower Language. The aztecs have unique flower meanings of their own, and they deemed the poinsettia to symbolize purity. The flower is named after american diplomat and physician joel roberts poinsett, who took a vital role in bringing the plants from mexico to north america.

In nahuatl , the language of the aztecs, the poinsettia was called cuitlaxochitl (from cuitlatl, for residue, and xochitl, for flower), meaning flower that grows in residues or soil. today the plant is known in mexico and guatemala as la flor de la nochebuena (flower of the holy night, or christmas eve). In the beginning of the 19th century, french publishers had begun to put out flower dictionaries devoted to decoding the meaning of flowers. What look like petals are specialized leaves called bracts.

A tropical plant with groups of bright red leaves that look like flowers 2.

In nature, the lengthening nights of late september and october trigger poinsettias to flower, trinklein said. While considered by the ancient aztecs to be symbols of purity, in today's language of flowers, red, white or pink poinsettias, the december birth flower, symbolize good cheer and success and are said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration. Promptness, fidelity in misfortune or adversity: For years, we’ve given and received poinsettias in gestures of kindness during the christmas season.