The poinsettia ((Euphorbia pulcherrima)) is a woody perennial shrub in its native Mexico and Central America but is typically grown as a holiday houseplant elsewhere. The showy, colorful parts are not flowers but modified leaves called bracts, while the actual flowers are small, yellow clusters in the center. To achieve vibrant color, the plant requires a "short-day" photoperiod, needing 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night for several weeks. As a tropical plant, it thrives in warm, bright environments but is sensitive to frost and cold drafts, which can cause leaf drop.Colorful bracts are modified leaves!