Eight-foot, crimson-topped poinsettias formed a hedge by the restaurant.

We were enjoying a late-winter cruise in the Caribbean and had come ashore onto a small island for supper. To me, who had never left North America until now, everything I saw was a delightful novelty. Growing in the ground, these giants were a far cry from New England’s Christmas potted parlor plants.

At home that spring, I began planting outdoors. At the base of a low wall by stone steps, a small border of bright perennials and variegated hostas welcomed arriving visitors. A gap in the back of the planting beneath the wall needed filling.

A poinsettia from my indoor garden would fit that blank space. The dark green leaves added contrast to the foliage already in the ground. Removing its pot, I set the plant right into a hole, watering it in.

Summer that year was unusually hot. I watered the garden first thing every morning and the small border especially loved that attention.

One August day, a gardening friend from another state came to visit.

“What’s that magnificent green plant at the back of the bed?” she demanded.

I hadn’t noticed it recently; it was the burgeoning poinsettia, whose leaves had grown improbably large and lush. Their veins had reddened in pleasing contrast. Instead of staying modest and prim, this single plant had spread and grown flamboyant leaves and stems. The poinsettia had become almost like a flexible green monument.

My friend could hardly believe me when I told her that this was one of our Christmas’ traditional plants. Several times since then, I’ve used poinsettias-in-the-ground for summer’s outdoor plants and most people don’t know what they’re seeing.    

You, too, dear reader, can do the same with poinsettias left over from Christmas. I’ve found that partial shade is best to produce impressive foliage effects. Now, what else can one do in summer with plants considered only for the parlor?