crown of thorns
Euphorbia milii
RHS AGM 1993
USDA zones10 to 12
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles dry to moderate soil
Size3 to 6 feet tall1.5 to 3 feet wide
- Habit
- Dense
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Green subtended by red or yellow bracts
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Notes
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a succulent for containers, borders, hedges, and accents. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 10 and warmer, down to about 30°F (-1°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full sun and dry to average, sandy, loamy, or chalky soil. Tiny green flowers sit inside red or yellow bracts and appear in every season. It is not a favorite of deer or rabbits, though hungry ones will eat almost anything.
Pairs well with Ponytail palm, Frangipani, and Blue grama.
Native range
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Corse, and 5 more places. See all 9
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Corse, East Aegean Is., Krym, NW. Balkan Pen., Sicilia, and Türkiye.