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Euphorbiaceae
Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia milii
Suffering and hope, sacrifice, devotion.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Genus
- Euphorbia
- Native to
- Madagascar
- Bloom season
- Year-Round
- Type
- Succulent shrub
- Height
- 60–180 cm
- Sunlight
- Full sun to bright light
- Soil
- Sharply drained, sandy
- Water
- Low; drought-tolerant
- Hardiness
- 9–11
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
Did you know
- Tradition holds that this is the plant Jesus's crown of thorns was woven from — though botanists doubt it grew in the Holy Land at the time, the imagery stuck.
- What look like flower petals are actually colorful bracts — the true flowers are the tiny yellow knobs in the center of each pair.
- The thick stems are armed with sharp black spines and ooze a milky latex that's irritating to skin and toxic if ingested.
- It's one of the most reliable year-round bloomers among succulents and can flower 365 days a year in warm conditions.
- Crown of thorns is wildly popular in Thailand, where over 2,000 cultivars have been bred and large-flowered forms are considered lucky.
Color meanings
Red
Blood and faith