Poinsettia pioneer’s family put on elaborate display of traditional Christmas plants in Midlothian

A garden centre run by a family who helped to introduce festive poinsettias to the UK put on an elaborate display as part of an annual tradition.

Elizabeth Gracie puts the last plant on the annual poinsettia Christmas Tree at Pentland Plants

Pentland Plants, in Loanhead, Midlothian, is run by the descendants of one of the first horticulturalists to bring the iconic Mexican plants to Britain.

The red blooms have become synonymous with Christmas but other colours are also grown and sold in the garden centre.

This year a Christmas display was made just of the traditional red flowers.

Owner Carolyn Spray, 52, grows them on site.

Her grandfather, Joseph Spray, brought them to Britain from America where they had been brought across the border from Mexico in the 1820s.

But the plants never caught on in the UK, and Joseph's son David - Carolyn's father - revived the idea in the 1980s.

Carolyn said: "My grandfather was one of the first people to bring them to the UK but nobody wanted them.

"He was too far ahead of his time.

"Then my father thought he would have another go and this time they took off.

"They are so iconic. We supply garden centres in England and all over Scotland.

"We grow lots of different sizes and colours.

"Red is the most popular colour followed by creamy white, burgundy and dark pink.

"We have sold the same amount, if not more, this year.

"This year we thought we'd go back to tradition. People come in and take pictures with it."

The garden centre will close on Boxing Day and operate with click and collect.

Carolyn added: "I'd rather be shut now, it is a quiet season, and hope things get back to normal sooner.

"We will do click and collect in the shop but it won't be busy.

"Brexit is going to cause a lot of problems as well as a lot of our plants come from Holland and bulbs come from Europe.

"Hopefully everything can open up later when we're in a better position.

"At least we can furlough staff."

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