Twenty-four poinsettia cultivars (Euphorbia pulcherrima) were exposed to a population of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii) for 6 weeks. Evaluation was based on the number of immature whitefly present on each of the marked leaves. The poinsettias that produce white bracts were more heavily infested with immature stages of whitefly than those cultivars that produce red bracts, while those that produce pink bracts were intermediate. There was a wide range in degree of whitefly infestation among poinsettia cultivars. Leaf trichome density also explained a portion of the variance in whitefly oviposition rates among several of the cultivars. Cultivars with high trichome densities sustained less whitefly oviposition than did cultivars with low trichome densities. Certain cultivars tested showed an appreciable natural resistance to whitefly (`Freedom Red', `Freedom Bright Red', `Red Velvet', `Cranberry Punch', `Pepride').