Next Monday, Nov. 24, Pete Carson will open Carson Borovetz Nursery for his annual poinsettia sales event.

Native to Southern Mexico, poinsettias, Euphorbia pulchenima, dominate holiday home and office decor to the tune of 80 million sold each year.

“This year we are offering four sizes and most of the colors available,” Carson said.

Shoppers will find more than 2,000 plants in various sizes and colors at the nursery.

Casual observers never notice the poinsettia flowers because they are so tiny. The colorful leaves or bracts that bring seasonal cheerfulness into our winter environment are not actually flowers.

Carson pointed out that even before the bracts turn colors you could see what color they will be by looking at the petiole or leaf stem. All the plants have green leaves when they are growing in October. But the stem that connects the leaf to the main stems carries the eventual bract color. Look for red stems on red poinsettias.

Carson will have white, pink, red, Monet, maroon, winter rose and marble.

“I have three or four reds this year,” Carson said. “People have their own preferences and I try to have something for everyone.”

Marble has pink centers with white fringe. New growth is pale green in the center with cream outer edges.

Maroon has large burgundy bracts.

Monet is a watercolor mix of dusty pinks and creams.

Winter rose is double dark red bloom with curved or curled bracts.

Pots available

Pixie is a 4.5-inch pot miniature with six to eight blooms — ideal for tabletop, bedside, desks.