In Madagascar you can find a great variety of fabulous plants, some strange, and others… thorny, like our protagonist today. Its scientific name is Euphorbia milii, although popularly it is known more as the Crown of Christ, or the Crown of thorns. It grows in the form of a shrub which rarely exceeds two meters in height, and is an exceptional plant for have in gardens, balconies or terraces, as long as the minimum temperature does not drop below two degrees below zero; although if that happened it could be protected at home without problems.
Its cultivation and maintenance is very simple, as we will see below.
La Euphorbia milii It has thorny stems, but its thorns are not as sharp as those of cacti, but are more reminiscent of those of the climbing plant known as bramble or blackberry, which grows wild throughout the Mediterranean region. The Crown of Thorns also has beautiful green flakes. These leaves can fall if it's too cold, but in spring they will sprout again.
It can be had, as we said, both on the ground, forming part of a rockery, for example, and in a pot with a substrate that facilitates the drainage of water. It is resistant to pests and diseases, but be careful with excess moisture in the soil, as the roots could rot. Therefore, we will let the substrate dry between watering and watering, in order to avoid risks.
It can grow both in semi-shade and in full sun, but it will grow better and give a greater number of flowers if it receives direct sunlight. If you want to have more specimens of Euphorbia milii, you can cut cuttings in spring or summer and plant them in a pot with vermiculite and perlite at 50% (approximately). In a few days they will take root.
What did you think of this beautiful plant? Do you have at home?