Welcome to plants@work
Welcome to the Plants at Work (formerly efig ltd) website - the association representing Interior Landscapers by promoting the use and benefits of Interior Plants.
There are many benefits of joining us, including:
- Industry Representation
- Great Business Opportunities
- Fantastic Training Programme
- Networking
Who We Are
News
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Christmas Trends 2025: What’s Coming for Commercial Interiors Friday, 21 November 2025
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Christmas Magic Meets a Life-Saving Mission: phs Greenleaf Marks Its Second Year Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Wednesday, 19 November 2025
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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – phs Greenleaf Christmas Installation Friday, 14 November 2025
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Gold Leaf Award Opulent Holiday Magic at McCann Worldgroup by Nurture Landscapes Friday, 07 November 2025
Happy World Poinsettia Day!
Celebrating the "Flower of the Holy Night":
Today, December 12th, the world celebrates World Poinsettia Day, a tribute to the vibrant plant that has become the quintessential symbol of the Christmas season. With its striking red and green foliage, the poinsettia (or Euphorbia pulcherrima) is much more than just a festive decoration; it holds a rich history that stretches from Aztec rituals to modern holiday marketing.
The poinsettia's journey began centuries ago in the warm, dry climates of Central America and Mexico, where it grows as a perennial shrub that can reach heights of 10-15 feet in the wild.
The Aztecs, who called the plant Cuetlaxochitl, used its brightly coloured "bracts" (the modified leaves, often mistaken for petals) to make a reddish-purple dye for fabrics and cosmetics. Its milky white sap, known as latex, was also used in traditional medicine to control fevers.
The plant's association with Christmas started in 17th-century Mexico. Franciscan monks near Taxco began using the naturally blooming winter plant in their Nativity processions. A Mexican legend tells the story of a poor girl named Pepita, who had no gift for Baby Jesus. An angel told her to offer the most humble gift with love. She gathered a bouquet of common weeds from the roadside, and when she laid them at the church altar, they miraculously burst into brilliant red blooms, becoming known as La Flor de la Nochebuena—The Flower of the Holy Night or Christmas Eve Flower.
Joel Roberts Poinsett who was a keen botanist and the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, while visiting the Taxco region in 1828, was captivated by this brilliant red shrubs. He sent cuttings back to his home in South Carolina, where he began cultivating them. The plant was officially named Poinsettia in his honour around 1836.
The plant's worldwide popularity is largely due to the efforts of the Ecke family of California. Paul Ecke Sr. and his son, Paul Ecke Jr., perfected a grafting technique in the early 20th century that ensured the seedlings would branch out, resulting in the lush, full potted plants we know today. Paul Ecke Jr.'s sophisticated marketing—including sending free plants to television studios for holiday broadcasts—solidified the poinsettia's place as the number one potted plant sold during the holiday season.
The poinsettia's role in interior landscaping is heavily accentuated for Christmas, making it the indispensable, high-impact seasonal element that defines holiday décor in commercial and public spaces. In professional installations like hotel lobbies and offices, the plant is used to create "Christmas Vistas"—large, often symmetrical mass plantings that focus holiday attention on entrances and reception areas. This strategic use elevates the standard plant to a symbol of cheer and hospitality, intrinsically linked to the season.
Its versatility allows it to harmonise with traditional Christmas themes or more contemporary designs. While classic red poinsettias are essential for pairing with traditional gold, silver, and evergreen elements, modern interior landscapers utilise white and cream varieties for sophisticated, "Winter Wonderland" themes that complement cooler holiday tones. The plant is also key in accelerating the festive feel of existing plantings: when small poinsettias are added as underplanting beneath permanent indoor trees and palms, they instantly turn those year-round plants into seasonal "living Christmas arrangements" without requiring the installation of an entirely new display.
Poinsettias have evolved from a South American shrub to a global icon, adorning homes, offices and public spaces with their festive colours and carrying a message of good cheer and hope. Take a moment today to appreciate this beautiful 'Flower of the Holy Night' and the journey it took to become a beloved part of our December traditions.
World Poinsettia Day is celebrated on December 12th to commemorate the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851.
