This shrub has a short trunk with slender spreading branches that form a open rounded crown. It has dark green oblong smooth textured leaves and the small yellow flowers are accompanied with scarlet red bracts and appear in late autumn.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Euphorbia pulcherrima is naturally found from southern Mexico to South America growing in woodlands in well drained, moderately fertile moist soils in an open to protected sunny position and is slightly drought tolerant but frost tender.

Poinsettia is grown for its flowers and rounded habit. It is planted along garden borders for screening or used as a specimen plant in a tropical setting. It may also be used as a small shade tree establishing in 2 to 3 years and is moderately long lived. When young it can be grown as a container plant and some cultivars can be grown as an indoor plant. ID 155
 
Note:
The sap is milky latex, poisonous and may cause skin allergies or stomach upsets. Less than 10 hours daylight will produce flowering.

Euphorbia (ew-FOR-bee-a) pulcherrima (pul-KE-ri-ma)

'Euphorbia': after Euphorbus, physician to King Juba of Mauritania; 'pulcherrima': most lovely.

Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee)
Spurge Family