University News Service

Open house features plethora of poinsettia plants

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The second annual Purdue National Poinsettia Trials Consumer Open House will take place from 1-5 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Purdue University horticulture greenhouse.

Poinsettia growers, breeders and consumers from across the country will be able to assess more than 95 different plants of various colors, shapes and sizes at Purdue and from similar events at the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. The open houses include poinsettias trees, plants grown in degradable or compostable pots, and experimental and novelty cultivars.

Poinsettias will not be for sale, but there will be several drawings to win some of the traditional and novelty cultivars, which come from poinsettia breeders Ecke, Dummen, GroLink, Syngenta and Selecta, said Roberto Lopez, assistant professor and floriculture Extension specialist.

Attendees will be asked to fill out a survey to enter to win one of 25 poinsettias. Lopez said the survey will show consumer preferences to help breeders and growers determine what kinds of poinsettias U.S. consumers want.

"We want to know their thoughts on new colors, novelty plants and potential new flower crops," Lopez said.

Purdue Extension also will provide Extension publications on caring for poinsettias during and after the holidays.

The greenhouse is located at the corner of Marsteller and Harrison streets on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. For a map, visit https://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/facilities/images/maps/mapZoom06.gif

The Indiana Flower Growers Association, Purdue Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue Extension, Dummen, GroLink, Paul Ecke Ranch, Selecta First Class, Syngenta Flowers, and the University of Connecticut sponsor the open house.