Euphorbia milii
Crown of thorns, Christ's thorn, Christ plant
- Height × spread
- 0.9m × 2m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A striking plant from Madagascar. It is a fascinating plant for a container or greenhouse. It has formidable thorny stems that carry broadly oval, rather spoon shaped leaves. The flowers are tiny but are surrounded by noticeable warm red bracts that are rounded and carried in clusters. The real flower is a tiny yellow spot at the centre of the bract. The plant is in flower for much of the year. It can have an upright growth habit, or can tend to sprawl with bare thorned stems a dominant feature, picturesque or ugly dependant on your point of view. This stands around 90cm (3ft) in height, often half that and can spread up to 2m (7ft) if left to its own devices.
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.9m
- Spread
- 2m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.9m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 12C minimum temperature
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, stems are prickly/thorny and potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten; skin & eye irritant
AutumnNow
Autumn-Winter · Indoors
Keep dry during dormancy
Keep dry during the period of dormancy or resting, which is likely to be from the middle of the autumn until spring.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with low nitrogen feed
Give a standard liquid houseplant feed that is low in nitrogen from May to October.
Nitrogen can encourage lush or soft growth which is inappropriate for plants that grow naturally on poor or arid soil.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water lightly in growth
Water lightly while plant is in growth.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + grit for repotting
Use a free draining loam based compost rather than one which has been modified to be 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare a compost using three parts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3) to one part of (horticultural) sand or fine (horticultural) grit.
Indoor temperature · Planting
12C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 12 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).
Found in
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