Clemson students display poinsettia varieties in Greenville hotel

Thanks to 10 Clemson students, visitors to a Greenville hotel this holiday season have the chance to take a walk through horticultural history. And that history is linked to the namesake of the Westin-Poinsett. A selection of poinsettia varieties grown by students at the campus greenhouses will be on display during December. “In 1828, South Carolina native Joel Poinsett sent a gangly Mexican shrub to the United States. Today the plant is an iconic symbol of the holiday season,” said Jim Faust, associate professor of horticulture at Clemson. “Visitors will see this transformation unfold in our exhibit of 24 heirloom and modern poinsettia varieties.” The display will open this week and run through the holidays.