FRESH PICK WHAT TO PLANT THIS WEEK POINSETTIA (EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA).

Byline: Barbara De Witt Staff Writer

POINSETTIA day is coming up, and markets and nurseries are already flooded with them.

The flowering shrub was introduced to this country in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U.S. ambassador to Mexico and named after him by historian/horticulturist William Prescott. The plant became so popular that when Poinsett died on Dec. 12, 1851, the day was declared Poinsettia Day in his honor.

The poinsettia is also called the Christmas plant or the Flower of the Holy Night. Regardless of what you call it, its official name is euphorbia pulcherrima, which means ``very beautiful.'' And it really is the beauty queen of the mostly succulent family of euphorbias.

Although America considers the plant part of its own holiday tradition, the poinsettia's roots are in Mexico, where it was a favorite of Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings. Legend has it that Montezuma had the plants brought into what is now Mexico City by caravan because they don't grow in high altitudes. He may have used them as house plants, but it's also been recorded that, during the 14th-16th centuries, the milky sap was used to control fevers.

A recent survey shows that half of America still thinks poinsettias are poisonous. Some members of the euphorbia family are quite toxic, but according to the American Medical Association's ``Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants,'' ingestion of the poinsettia has caused only a few cases of vomiting. And the Society of American Florists reports that scientific tests proved it to be nontoxic more than 20 years ago. Like all house plants, it's still best to keep the poinsettia out of the reach of small children and pets.

VARIETIES AVAILABLE: Red is the classic color, but you can now find poinsettias in a variety of colors to complement your decor, including ruby red, pale pink, white and variegated designs, but these variations on the original are chemically altered colors, says Conrad Delgado, nursery manager of Orchard Supply Hardware in West Hills. He adds that if you plant an altered (not red) poinsettia it will come back the next season with its original red flowers unless you give it aluminum sulfate food. Now, if you want to improve the original red, feed it high-nitrogen fertilizer every two weeks.

GETTING STARTED: When shopping for a poinsettia, choose a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line with bracts (like large petals) that are completely colored - not green around the edges. Avoid any plants that are wilted or drooping or crowded close together in a display, which can cause premature bract loss.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE: In the San Fernando Valley, plant them now in an area that will be shaded and well-watered during the summer months, says Delgado. While they like sun and warmth (remember, they're from Southern Mexico), too much sun (or the house heating system on ``high'') will make the leaves drop off, but it's only temporary. They aren't dead, Delgado adds.

Poinsettias require regular watering but need to be well-drained or they'll easily get root rot. If it's a potted plant, immediately tear the foil off the plastic pot so water can drain. And do not water until the soil is so dry that it will not stick to your finger or a plant thermometer plunged several inches into the soil.

When leaves drop in late winter or early spring, cut stems back to two buds and reduce watering to a minimum. Store in a cool place until danger of frost is past, then place pot in a sunny spot on the patio. If you are planting in the garden, consider that these plants can grow up to 10 feet tall and six feet wide.

Also, be on the lookout for slugs and snails, which love to nibble on poinsettias as the weather gets colder.

LANDSCAPING TIPS: Decorative on a patio or trimmed as a hedge along a garden path. It complements plants with white flowers, such as agapantha or low-growing bacopa.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Talk to your nurseryman, or go to an Internet search engine and type in ``poinsettia'' for a wealth of information on the flower's history and care. Also look in gardening books such as ``Sunset Western Garden Book'' (Sunset; $32.95) under ``euphorbia.''

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Photo:

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Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer