All flowers
Siamese Lucky Plant Wikimedia Commons
Euphorbiaceae

Siamese Lucky Plant

Euphorbia milii

Endurance through suffering.

Family
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Native to
Madagascar
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Type
succulent shrub
Height
2-6 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, sandy
Water
low
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • In Thailand, this plant is believed to bring good luck, and the number of flower clusters is thought to predict the owner's fortune.
  • The colorful 'petals' are actually modified leaves called bracts; the true flowers are tiny and centered within them.
  • Legend associates this species with Christ's crown of thorns, though the plant is native to Madagascar, not the Middle East.
  • Thai breeders have developed hundreds of cultivars with enormous, showy bracts in every color from deep red to cream.
  • The milky sap is toxic and can cause skin irritation, but the plant is otherwise extremely easy to grow and nearly indestructible.

Color meanings

0

endurance

1

faith

2

good fortune

Uses

  • ornamental houseplant
  • container gardening
  • Thai horticulture