| | Poinsettia at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Center. (Photo by Mark Claesgens) |
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| | Jeff Kuehny, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, directs the poinsettia evaluation program. (Photo by Mark Claesgens) |
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Pointy and pretty, no flower quite has the petal power of poinsettias at the holidays. And the selection would be far fewer in Louisiana were it not for the LSU AgCenter.
Although AgCenter horticulturists do not develop new varieties of poinsettias, they do evaluate the varieties that come on the market and test them for their suitability to grow here.
“There are approximately 40 poinsettia growers in the state, and the wholesale value for Louisiana is about $1.5 million,” said Jeff Kuehny, LSU AgCenter horticulturist in charge of the poinsettia evaluation program.
The LSU AgCenter’s 2007 Poinsettia Open House is set for Dec. 14 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge. This event, which is being held for the 13th time, provides poinsettia growers and the public with an opportunity to view some of the latest poinsettia varieties.
“We didn’t have an open house last year because it was such a poor season,” Kuehny said. “It would have been the 13th annual event last year.”
But this year’s crop was good, he said, and there will be new varieties to view.
Some of the new varieties on display will be an experimental orange, a pink, a white and some new shades of red.
“Red continues to be the most popular color,” Kuehny said.
Those attending the open house will be asked to vote on their favorites among the new varieties. This will guide Kuehny and his research team on which ones to evaluate.
More than 1,000 plants will be on display and will be for sale that day. Proceeds go to research at the Burden Center.
Watch a short video on picking the perfect poinsettia.
Read “Poinsettia Selection and Care.”
For people who grow poinsettias to sell, the LSU AgCenter has a guidebook of how-to’s. Go to “Poinsettia Production Guidelines for the Gulf South.”
The poinsettia's beautiful leaves are not petals. They are called bracts.
The LSU AgCenter is one of 11 institutions of higher education in the Louisiana State University System. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, it provides educational services in every parish and conducts research that contributes to the economic development of the state. The LSU AgCenter does not grant degrees nor benefit from tuition increases. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.