LEGO Botanical Collection 10370 Poinsettia review

One of the world’s most popular festive plants is recreated in LEGO just in time for the holiday season, but can this Poinsettia beat the real thing?

The LEGO Botanical Collection has blossomed into one of the most creative and colorful themes within the LEGO Group’s portfolio. Renowned for its highly accurate recreations and innovative use of unique parts, the theme showcases the endless possibilities of the humble brick. 10370 Poinsettia is the latest entry into the flowery theme, so will this model bloom into something special – matching the standards set by previous Botanical Collection models – or is this one LEGO plant that will eventually just wither away?

Release: October 1, 2024 Price: £44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99 Pieces: 608 Minifigures: 0 LEGO: Order now

Let’s get potting

Originally native to Mexico, the Poinsettia is one of the world’s best-selling potted plants. Often referred to as the ‘Flowers of the Holy Night’, its blooms are said to resemble the Star of Bethlehem, making the Poinsettia a symbol of the festive season and a common Christmas decoration in homes around the world. While Poinsettias come in a variety of colors, the vibrant red remains the most iconic, and this is the colour chosen by the LEGO designers for this model.

Inside 10370 Poinsettia you’ll find 608 pieces spread across six bags, which come together to create the plant. The model features three large, striking red blooms along with two smaller ones, all housed in an attractive nougat-coloured pot designed to resemble a woven basket.

The first task in the build is assembling this pot. It has an inner core of studs to which the outer elements are attached forming a small but eye-catching base for the plant. The basket design is a pleasant and engaging side build that looks appealing on display, though it’s debatable whether most fans will recognise it as a woven basket rather than a regular pot. The instructions, however, do make this clear.

Blooming marvellous?

The next stages focus on the iconic red flowers and foliage that surrounds them. These are mainly designed using a variety of wedge plates and larger wedge elements and the foliage can be angled and adjusted.

There are two smaller flowers and three larger flowers. The varying sizes give an impression of a healthy, blooming plant, which really helps bring the model to life. These are fun to construct although each flower is almost identical in design, so there is a bit of repetition. In the same way as other LEGO flower and plant models you’ll find some extremely smart parts usage on display: ninja stars are used for the smaller flowers and blonde hair pieces are used throughout to great effect.

However, compared to other sets in the Botanical Collection, this model incorporates far more angular elements. While the Poinsettia plant itself has sharp features, nature is generally softer than LEGO bricks, and this set, more than others in the series, feels more like a stylised LEGO interpretation of a plant than a realistic replica. When compared to models like 10311 Orchid or 10314 Dried Flower Centerpiece, the Poinsettia doesn’t capture the same level of realism that those sets achieve. Even from a distance, it’s clear that this is a LEGO model as opposed to a real plant.

Short but sweet

That said, the building experience is enjoyable, though relatively brief, with experienced builders likely able to complete the set in about an hour to an hour and a half. The clever and creative use of parts – such as the ninja stars for the smaller flower petals – adds a spark of ingenuity that may inspire fans who enjoy designing their own creations, but seasoned builders might find the build too short and feel a bit underwhelmed by how quickly it’s over. Still, this set could serve as a great entry point for newcomers to LEGO, offering a fun and creative start to their journey.

It’s an attractive model, with the combination of reds and greens giving it a festive holiday feel. While its price is roughly double that of a real Poinsettia (North American and European fans getting a slightly better deal) this version requires no maintenance and will add a vibrant touch of colour to any display. There are however more impressive festive and botanical models available. Overall, 10370 Poinsettia is a nice set – just not a stand-out one.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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Honest opinion: A vibrant model that’s slightly lacking in the build experience, the Poinsettia looks the part and conjures up the festive spirit, but there are better botanical sets out there overall.