Euphorbia

Indigenous; 10cm - 3m
Planting position: Full sun in wind-free areas without cold, frosty winters.
Requires watering when needed and well-draining, compost-enriched soil.
Propagate from cuttings.

Euphorbia plants have a milky sap often poisonous and are of interesting shape.
E. caput-medusae (Medusa’s head; 75cm) has twining branches from its chubby stems and short-lived foliage. The spring flowers are small and white and the sap poisonous.
E. cooperi (Transvaal candelabra tree; 2 - 6m) is of great value in landscaping with its candelabra-like, angled branches. The sap is poisonous.
E. grandicornis (Cow’s horn; 2m) has great thorns on its many branches emerging from ground level.
E. horrida (African milk-barrel; 85 - 95cm) is clump-forming with its greyish-green, spiny branches and it produces yellowish or brown spring flowers.
E. ingens (Naboom; 8m) is a much-branched specimen with triangular stems.
E. meloformis (10cm) is a perennial succulent with greyish-green, ribbed sides and brown bands.
E. milii (Christ’s thorn; 1 - 2m) has its slim branches covered in green leaf clusters and dark spines. The regularly produced crown-like flowers are yellowish with bright red bracts.