Crown of thorns
Euphorbia milii · Family Euphorbiaceae
Also known as: euphorbia milii, christ plant, christ thorn
- Light
- Full sun
- Watering
- Every 10 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet-safe
- No, keep it away from cats and dogs
Care
Where to put it
The sunniest windowsill in the house.
Light
Full sun for flowers all year. Wear gloves: the sap irritates.
Watering
Water when the compost is dry; it drops leaves if kept too dry for long.
About the plant
The crown of thorns has spiny stems and small red, pink or yellow flowers that appear almost all year. It is resistant to sun and drought and widely used as a hedge in Brazil.
Origin
Native to Madagascar, where it grows in dry, sunny areas.
What it likes
- Full sun
- Infrequent watering
- Free-draining compost
What it dislikes
- Shade
- Soggy compost
- Severe cold
Did you know?
The coloured parts that look like petals are bracts, and the plant's latex irritates skin and eyes.
