Plants in genus euphorbia
Euphorbia mammillaris
This columnar-shaped plant has thick spines and flowers that range from white to yellow to red. It is simple to care for, requiring full sun, infrequent watering, and well-draining soil. It rarely needs repotting and thrives in temperatures above 21°C with moderate humidity.
Euphorbia ledienii
Euphorbia ledienii is a succulent shrub native to South Africa, resembling a cactus. It can grow up to 6.5 feet tall and requires full sun and well-draining soil.
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Variegatus'
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Variegatus', commonly known as the 'Zigzag Plant' or 'Devil's Backbone', is a succulent native to the West Indies and Mexico. It features succulent stems with white, milky sap and green leaves variegated with white and pink. This plant is drought-tolerant and can adapt to a range of sunlight conditions, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings.
Euphorbia bougheyi
Euphorbia bougheyi is a shrub with flat or trigonal stems that grow in a candelabra fashion. It develops a woody trunk and produces a white sap that can irritate the skin. This plant is part of the Euphorbiaceae family and is known for its unique growth habit.
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Nana'
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Nana' is a compact plant that thrives in bright, indirect light and temperatures ranging from 40 to 100 degrees. It grows up to 6 inches tall and prefers humidity around 50%. The soil should be allowed to dry between waterings, making it a low-maintenance choice for indoor gardens.
Euphorbia leuconeura
Euphorbia leuconeura, commonly known as the Madagascar jewel, is a branching small tree endemic to Madagascar. It grows up to 5 feet tall and is known for its attractive dark green leaves with white veins. This plant is less susceptible to overwatering and thrives in partial to full shade. It propagates by shooting seeds several feet into the air and secretes a toxic white fluid when damaged.
Euphorbia pteroneura
Euphorbia pteroneura is a succulent shrub native to Mexico, characterized by fleshy green stems with small leaves at the tips. It is drought-tolerant and requires well-draining soil, with the ability to tolerate light frost.
Euphorbia mauritanica
Euphorbia mauritanica, also known as Pencil Milkbrush, is a drought-tolerant plant native to Southern Africa and Namibia. It thrives in sunny, south-facing locations and is well-suited to dry conditions. This plant is notable for its resilience and ability to grow in challenging environments.
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Curly Pink'
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Curly Pink' thrives in bright, indirect light and temperatures between 40 to 100°F. It grows up to 6 inches tall and prefers humidity around 50%, with soil that dries between waterings.
Euphorbia spinea
Euphorbia spinea is a spineless shrub native to Namibia, characterized by its thin, almost cylindrical stems forming bushy clumps. The plant's branches often grow in opposite pairs and have sharp pointed tips, with color changing to darker maroon or brown in winter.
Euphorbia baioensis
Euphorbia baioensis is a spiny succulent native to Kenya, thriving in hot, dry conditions typical of tropical deserts. This small shrub-like plant features greyish-green upright stems and produces pale yellow flowers in spring and summer. It prefers full sun to partial shade and requires dry soil between waterings, making it well-suited for xeriscaping in USDA zones 10b-11.
Euphorbia polygona var. horrida
Euphorbia polygona var. horrida, native to South Africa, is a spiny succulent shrub that resembles a cactus. It grows up to 5 feet tall with blue-green, heavily ridged stems and produces small green-yellow flowers in summer. This plant forms tight clumps of upright columns and is known for its clustered crowns of spines. It thrives in well-draining mineral potting substrate and can tolerate temperatures as low as 14°F if roots are kept dry. Euphorbia polygona var. horrida prefers light shade to full sun and requires moderate watering throughout the year, except during the coldest month.
Euphorbia milii
Euphorbia milii, commonly known as the crown of thorns, is a woody succulent native to Madagascar. It features densely spiny stems and small flowers with conspicuous red, pink, or white bracts. This plant blooms year-round and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 9b-11. Its sap is moderately poisonous, causing skin and eye irritation, and it is toxic to animals. Euphorbia milii is also an effective molluscicide, recommended for snail control in schistosomiasis areas.
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Splish Splash'
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Splish Splash' is a compact plant known for its bright, indirect light requirements and temperature tolerance from 40 to 100 degrees. It grows up to 6 inches tall and prefers humidity around 50%, with soil that dries between waterings. This low-maintenance plant is ideal for indoor spaces, offering a unique appearance with its distinctive foliage.
Euphorbia decaryi
Euphorbia decaryi is a spreading, evergreen succulent native to Madagascar, found in dry forests and rocky areas. It grows up to 6 inches tall and features thick, lanceolate leaves with undulated margins and woody stems with short spines. The plant blooms from April to June, displaying chartreuse, yellow-green, yellow, or red flowers. It prefers bright, indirect light and a temperature range of 40 to 100°F, with soil that dries between waterings.
Euphorbia decaryi var. decaryi
Euphorbia decaryi var. decaryi is a small caudiciform plant endemic to Madagascar, known for its highly variable leaf shapes and colors. It features lanceolate leaves with green variegation and a red-tinted reverse, forming a woody caudex close to the soil. This plant naturally takes a bonsai-like shape and is suitable for bright light conditions.
Euphorbia epithymoides
Euphorbia epithymoides, native to Southern Europe, is a compact perennial with acid yellow flower-heads in spring and summer. It naturalizes well in gardens and is known for its clump-forming habit. The cultivar 'Major' has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Euphorbia pulcherrima, commonly known as the poinsettia, is native to Mexico and Central America. It is famous for its red and green foliage, often used in Christmas displays. This semi-evergreen shrub can grow up to 13 feet tall and is not toxic to pets or children, though ingestion may cause mild discomfort. It requires darkness to change bract color and is susceptible to various plant diseases.
Euphorbia milii 'Pink Hybrid'
Euphorbia milii 'Pink Hybrid' is a thorny-stemmed plant with medium-sized bright green leaves and an upright growth habit. It blooms most of the year with bright pink flowers and thrives in sun to partial shade. This plant reaches 18-24 inches in height and prefers to dry out between waterings.
Euphorbia palustris
Euphorbia palustris is a striking herbaceous perennial known for its bright acid yellow flower-heads in spring and vibrant red and yellow foliage in autumn. Native to European and Asian marshlands, it thrives in moist conditions, even tolerating shallow standing water. This plant is recognized with the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It can spread by seeding in suitable moist environments. However, caution is advised as all parts are toxic if ingested and the sap can irritate skin.
Euphorbia greenwayi
Euphorbia greenwayi is a mounding spurge native to Tanzania, with light green to powder-blue stems and red-hued thorns. It occasionally produces small yellow flowers and contains a latex sap that can irritate the skin.
Euphorbia tirucalli
Euphorbia tirucalli, also known as 'Pencil Cactus,' is a succulent shrub or small tree native to Africa. It is characterized by its pencil-thick, green branches and yellow flowers. The plant contains a milky, toxic sap that can cause temporary blindness, so caution is advised when handling. It thrives in well-drained soils with plenty of bright light, making it suitable for semi-arid tropical climates. Despite its toxicity, it is used in alternative medicine and its latex can be utilized as fuel. Its unique appearance and adaptability to dry conditions make it an interesting addition to xeriscapes.
Euphorbia spiralis
Euphorbia spiralis is a leafless, cactus-like succulent endemic to Yemen's Socotra. It features thick stems with paired spines, which can be straight or spiraling, and varies in shape from an open shrub to a cushion-like form, making it a unique addition to succulent collections.
Euphorbia clava
Euphorbia clava, originating from the East Cape, is a cylindrical plant suited for well-drained soil in full sun. It can be grown indoors and requires regular watering during its active growing season. The plant is frost-tender and can be propagated by cuttings.
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Variegata'
Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Variegata' is a fast-growing succulent shrub with reddish flowers and variegated leaves that may blush pink in winter. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers to be on the dry side.
Euphorbia stenoclada
Euphorbia stenoclada is a plant native to Madagascar, thriving in dry forests and rocky areas. It is suited for well-drained soil in full sun and can be grown indoors. This plant has a milky sap that can cause skin irritation, and it is propagated by cuttings.