(ELK TOWNSHIP) - New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today visited Lucas Greenhouses in Gloucester County to highlight that poinsettias, the popular holiday plant, is being shipped by New Jersey greenhouses and nursery growers as December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

New Jersey ranked 10^th in the U.S. in wholesale poinsettia plants sold in the most recent data available from the United States Department of Agriculture. The last agricultural census reported 51 producers sold 1.3 million plants with a total value of $6.9 million. Nursery is the largest commodity group in New Jersey agriculture with an annual value of more than $350 million.

“Poinsettias are a colorful reminder that the holiday season is here and provide a wonderful addition to any holiday setting,” Secretary Fisher said.  “Our growers take great measures to produce a wide variety of poinsettias that can be tailored to fit the needs of individual homeowners, businesses and institutions. When you purchase poinsettias from a local nursery it helps the state economy and supports local farm families.”

Lucas Greenhouses is a family owned and operated horticultural grower, producing more than 30 different varieties of poinsettias among its 1.7 million square feet of indoor growing space. The operation offers several sizes of poinsettias ranging from 4.5-inch pots all the way up to 14-inch pots in a variety of colors including traditional reds, whites, and pinks, along with many novelty colors like red glitter. Lucas Greenhouses has been growing ornamental holiday crops, like poinsettias, since 1979 in southern New Jersey. This specific holiday crop is used as decoration in the home, at the office, in many churches, and for holiday parties and events throughout the northeast.

“Poinsettias add such beauty to holiday décor with their solid canopy and bold colors,” said George Lucas, co-founder and co-owner of Lucas Greenhouses with his wife, Louise. “Our greenhouse provides a wide range of color in many different sizes to meet every expectation of the customer. Our team takes great pride in growing the best crop possible, no matter the season, and we take special care to meet the holiday demands each year.”

Poinsettias are easy to care for and should be watered only when dry to the touch.  Locate the plant in a bright, cool place, avoiding drafts. Also, poinsettias should be kept away from heating vents and other sources of heat, such as fireplaces and radiators.

Today’s poinsettia plant has a storied history in New Jersey. The ‘Oak Leaf’ poinsettia was introduced by Mrs. Enteman in Jersey City in the 1920s and dominated the field for the next 40 years as it was the first cultivar suitable for growing in a pot.

To find a local business that sells poinsettias and other Jersey Grown products, go to jerseygrown.nj.gov/.

National Poinsettia Day was created by an Act of Congress to enjoy the beauty of the plant, first introduced in the United States by Joel Roberts Poinsett.

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