EUPHORBIA horrida

 Pronounced (yoo-for-bee-ah hor-eed-ah)
Fast facts:

• commonly known as 'african milk barrel'
• hardy to USD zones 9b-11
• can be propagated by stem cuttings
• there a few cultivars, one is the 'snowlake' cultivar pictured at the top left

We are here to dispel the myth that Euphorbia are cacti--they are thorny succulent shrubs with tight columnar growth patterns that resemble cacti, with a milky-white sap that can cause a rash to develop on the skin. Euphorbia horrida have stems that are about 10-30 centimeters thick, and each stem has approximately 10-20 ribs. They'll max out at approximately 4-5 feet tall indoors. The thorns or spines are found at the ridgeline of the ribs, with clusters of thorns on the crown of the growth columns. We treat Euphorbia horrida as a houseplant, though it would likely enjoy some time outdoors during the summer months as long as it warm enough at night. For indoor plant care, we find direct light from a south or west facing window best. In the shop we water them up to weekly during summer growing months, still allowing them to dry out thoroughly between waterings. In more dormant months, or shoulder seasons, waterings happen every 2-4 weeks depending on how quickly soil dries. Plant into a pumice heavy potting medium--premixed cactus or succulent blends work fine. Fertilize annually toward the beginning of the growing season, monthly or weekly applications are not necessary.