Crown of Thorns — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Euphorbia milii |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–28 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 21.1–26.7 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 180–365 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 45.7–91.4 |
| Mature height (cm) | 30.5–152.4 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 45.7–91.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 10–11 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Transplant |
Growing directions
Grow in full sun in very well-drained, gritty or sandy soil or potting mix; Crown of Thorns is extremely drought-tolerant and will rot quickly in wet, heavy soils or from overwatering. Euphorbia milii is a semi-succulent shrub native to Madagascar, heavily armed with long, sharp spines on the zigzagging, grayish stems — a characteristic thought to have inspired its Biblical associations with the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the Crucifixion. Despite its formidable armament, Crown of Thorns is one of the most popular and widely cultivated succulent ornamentals in the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where it is grown as an outdoor hedge, container specimen, and cut flower plant. The true flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, but they are surrounded by brilliantly colored, petal-like bracts in vivid scarlet, pink, orange, yellow, salmon, cream, or bicolor combinations — and the plant blooms nearly continuously in warm climates, making it one of the longest-blooming ornamentals available. Modern Thai hybrids (often marketed as 'Giant Euphorbia') produce much larger, showier bracts than the original species and are available in an extraordinary range of colors. CAUTION: The milky white latex sap is highly irritating to skin and eyes and toxic if ingested by humans or pets.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0