Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia milii
Succulents & Cacti Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
A tough, drought-tolerant succulent shrub adorned with prominent thorns on its woody stems and clusters of tiny, long-lasting flowers in red, pink, yellow, or white. The colorful bracts surrounding the tiny flowers can persist for weeks, making it one of the longest-blooming houseplants. A rewarding plant for sunny windowsills.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun to bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
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Water
Every 1-2 weeks
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Humidity
Low (30-50%)
🌡️
Temperature
18-30°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining cactus or succulent potting mix; add perlite or sand to standard potting soil
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Fertilizer
Balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength every 4-6 weeks during spring through fall
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Madagascar; widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
- 📏 Max height
- 60-150 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Year-round
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Red, Pink, Yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- TOXIC — milky sap is a severe irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; can cause blistering and temporary blindness. Keep away from children and pets.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings in spring; wear gloves as sap is irritating; allow cut ends to dry 1-2 days before planting
🛡️ Health & Safety
⚠️ Not pet safe
☠️ Toxic
TOXIC — milky sap is a severe irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; can cause blistering and temporary blindness. Keep away from children and pets.
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering, Mealybugs on stems, Leaf drop from cold temperatures, Scale insects
💡 Care tips
- Thorny stems produce clusters of colorful bracts year-round,Drought-tolerant but blooms best with regular watering,Sap is toxic so keep away from children and pets,Can bloom almost continuously with enough light
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 11 days, fertilizing every 35 days.
