The Horticulture Club is carrying on its tradition of spreading holiday cheer.

Club members are selling poinsettias to raise money. Sales begin Wednesday and will continue daily through Saturday.

“We like to spread the holiday cheer and help the general public know what horticulture is,” said Evan Schnabel, senior in horticulture and Poinsettia Sale co-chairman.

Besides the typical white and red poinsettias, the club also offers novelty varieties, such as Crazy Christmas and Jingle Bells, which are a mixture of white and red colors.

Jacob Petersen, senior in animal science and Poinsettia Sale co-chairman, urges the public to purchase their poinsettias early so they have the best selection of plants to choose from.

“Some varieties sell out fast,” Petersen said.

Several sizes of poinsettia plants are available, ranging from 5-inch pots to 8-inch pots.

Without a greenhouse to grow the poinsettias in this year, due to demolition and reconstruction of the old greenhouses outside Horticulture Hall, the club relied on the assistance of Central Iowa Floral out of Sheldahl to help make this year’s fundraiser possible.

“We ordered the cuttings and had them shipped down to Sheldahl,” Schnabel said. “We’ve been down to check on the quality of the plants a couple of times.”

The club has a wide range of customers who purchase the poinsettias. Not only are sales limited to Iowa State, but people from Ames and the surrounding communities support the club’s fundraising efforts as well. Petersen said a church in Knoxville has ordered as many as 90 poinsettias in the past. ISU Dining also orders several poinsettias to decorate its establishments.

Students are encouraged to purchase poinsettias to brighten up their dorm rooms, apartments or other living spaces.

“Everyone needs a poinsettia on their desk to stare at when they’re taking a break from studying,” Petersen said.