Plenty of Poinsettias to Pick From

Jennifer Zurko

Watch Chris Beytes walk through some of these varieties from the N.G. Heimos Poinsettia Open House in November 2020.

Since red is the most popular poinsettia color, I’ll list them here first by timing, earliest to latest.

Robyn Red (Beekenkamp)
Timing: 7 weeks
Vigor: Compact to medium 
Recommended container: 4 to 8 in.
Description: Excellent heat tolerance and a great variety for early season sales in all climates. Dark foliage with red bracts. V-shaped habit with low vigor. Ideal for Black Friday sales. 

Pepita (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danziger)
Timing: 7.5 to 8 weeks
Vigor: Compact to medium 
Recommended container: Mini, 4 to 6 in.
Description: Named after the Mexican Christmas story of the small child, Pepita. High-density production allows for promotional items. Minimal PGRs in production. 

Hercules (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danziger)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium/compact
Recommended container: 6 in.
Description: Very strong with upright bracts and stems. Good heat tolerance, so a good option for both southern and northern growers. Little PGR use required. 

Imperial (Dümmen Orange)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to high
Recommended container: 6 to 10 in.
Description: Bright red color paired with full florist bracts against dark green foliage. The strong V-shape habit makes this very suitable for high-density planting. Ideal for cold finishing, making it perfect for northern production. Long-lasting cyathia offers great shelf life.

Legacy (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danziger)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Vigorous
Recommended container: 6 to 8 in.
Description: Strong, upright stems with upright, fancy-grade bracts and prominent cyathia. Nice variety to use in straight-up and pinched production.

Prestigious Red (Dümmen Orange)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium
Recommended container: Minis to trees
Description: Dark red crinkle bracts sit on top of traditional green foliage providing stand-out appeal for consumers. Versatility and adaptability means it can be utilized in many different programs. Prestigious broadens the Prestige series by finishing earlier, which allows grower flexibility to extend the selling season. Naturally finishes between Early Prestige and Prestige Red. Offers great durability from sleeving to shipping.

Toro Red (Syngenta)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: 6 to 10 in.  
Description: Deep-red, large bracts with large cyathias against dark foliage. Not recommended for the Deep South because of heat delay.

Viking Pro (Dümmen Orange)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium
Recommended container: Mini to 10 in.
Description: The classic medium-sized bracts provide a full display on top of the plant, contrasting against the yellow cyathia and dark leaves. The strong root system and great branching works well for multiple climate regions.

Legendary (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danziger)
Timing: 8.5 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: Minis to trees
Description: Heat tolerant main-season cultivar. In large pot production, may need rings or tied, similar to Freedom in production.

Southern Charm (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danziger)
Timing: 9 weeks
Vigor: Vigorous
Recommended container: 6 to 8 in. pinched
Description: Clear-red bracts on an upright habit. Ideal for both southern and northern growers. Allows for later starts to reach the finished target height. Upright growth habit, even in large containers, such as 8 in. pinched.

Biancaneve White (Lazzeri, distributed by Syngenta)
Timing: 7.5 to 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: 6 to 10 in.
Description: Very large snow-white bracts cover the foliage. V-shaped habit with strong, thick stems. Not recommended for the south because of heat delay.

Frozen (Dümmen Orange)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: 4 to 10 in.
Description: According to Dümmen Orange, the brightest white they have in their lineup. The V-shape habit makes it ideal for medium and large containers. Needs to be pinched on time and PGRs need to be used in the liner stage. An ideal variety for painting and glitter.

Jack Frost (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danizger)
Timing: 8 to 8.5 weeks
Vigor: Medium
Recommended container: 6 to 8 in.
Description: Creamy-white, large upright bracts. More compact than Pure White with a medium habit.

Pure White (Rinehart Poinsettias by Danziger)
Timing: 7.5 to 8 weeks
Vigor: Vigorous
Recommended container: 6 to 8 in.
Description: Pure white, upright bracts atop very upright stems with a V-shaped habit. Tolerates low-light conditions in the north.

Superba White (Lazzeri, distributed by Syngenta)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: Mini to 10 in.
Description: Medium to large white bracts in a V-shaped habit with an excellent shelf life. Easy to grow in all pot sizes. Not recommended for the south because of heat delay. Replaces Mars White.

Virgo White (Beekenkamp)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous 
Recommended container: 6 to 10 in.
Description: White bracts contrast nicely with the dark green foliage. V-shaped habit with a strong root system. Ideal for painting and glitter.

Candy Cane (Dümmen Orange)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium
Recommended container: Mini to 8 in.
Description: This red-and-white jingle variety offers a stunning display for retail promotions with big cyathia and large, star-shaped bracts. As a complement to Red Glitter, it’s half a week earlier and slightly less vigorous for early premium promotions. White bracts that appear need to be rogued out, which can add extra finish time (see photo).

Pictured above: White bracts that appear in Candy Cane need to be rogued out.

Early Polly’s Pink (Dümmen Orange)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Vigorous
Recommended container: 6 to 10 in.
Description: As an alternative to Polly’s Pink, it’s one week earlier and retains the same hot pink hue with similar high vigor. Early Polly’s Pink is vigorous, but is responsive to PGR treatments for height control.

J’Adore Family (Dümmen Orange)
Colors: Dark Pink, Pink and White Pearl are new; Pink was previously introduced
Timing: 7.5 weeks
Vigor: Medium 
Recommended container: Mini to 8 in. 
Description: The unique bract shape provides full coverage of the canopy with distinct color. This line of euphorbia hybrids is ideal to make combinations.

Pictured above: The varieties in the J’Adore family make great combinations. Pictured: Dark Pink, Pink and White Pearl. 

Orange Glow (Selecta One)
Timing: 7.5 weeks
Vigor: Medium
Recommended container: 4 to 8 in.
Description: Selecta is calling this a breeding breakthrough because it’s the only true orange poinsettia on the market that was bred from a seedling and not a mutation or sport. It’s a cross between a euphorbia and a traditional poinsettia, meaning the color is stable. Selecta is anticipating more colors to come from this cultivar. Typically, orange poinsettias have a problem with heat delay, but Orange Glow is more heat-tolerant, so it’s a good option for the south. Easy to grow for mid- to late-November programs in time to decorate for Thanksgiving.

Robyn Pink (Beekenkamp)
Timing: 7 weeks
Vigor: Compact to medium
Recommended container: Mini to 8 in.
Description: Medium-sized bracts on well-branched plants. Sport of Robyn Red and matches well for early season finishing and Black Friday sales. Excellent heat tolerance, so it performs in all climates, including the Deep South. Ideal for painting and glitter.

Superba Marble (Lazzeri, distributed by Syngenta)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: Mini to 10 in.
Description: Medium to large marble bracts with a nice pink-and-white contrast. Matches the timing of the rest of the Superba family. A V-shaped habit that’s easy to grow in all pot sizes. Replaces Mars Marble. Not recommended for the south because of heat delay.

Superba Pink (Lazzeri, distributed by Syngenta)
Timing: 8 weeks
Vigor: Medium to vigorous
Recommended container: Mini to 10 in.
Description: Deep pink medium to large bracts on a V-shaped habit. Matches the timing of the rest of the Superba family. Excellent shelf life and easy to grow in all pot sizes. Not recommended for the south because of heat delay. GT