Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia hybrids)

Euphorbias have over 2,000 varieties and originate from South America, Africa and Asia. The Crown of Thorns type, which are hybrids of Euphorbia milii and Euphorbia lophogona have flowers that grow in clusters of brilliant blooms. They are considered indestructible because they can grow year-round on a sunny windowsill in a warm, bright location, tolerating long periods of dryness.

Euphorbias are also one of those tried and true houseplants that get passed down from generation to generation. Lately, there has been an effort, particularly in Thailand, to hybridize a dazzling array of colors and large sized blooms compared to the traditional species.

Light: Full sun, inside on a southern exposure windowsill or outside during the summer months, is best but they can adapt to partial sun for short periods of time.

Watering: Bring soil to a state of visual dryness between waterings. When watering, thoroughly saturate the soil until some water trickles from the bottom of the pot. Growing in a clay pot helps maintain a healthy root system. These plants don’t like wet feet. Don’t let the pot sit in a saucer of water.