Overview

Introduce a splash of vibrant color and unique texture to your plant collection with the red crown of thorns live plant. This beautiful and resilient succulent, scientifically known as Euphorbia milii, is celebrated for its striking red bracts that resemble flowers, blooming almost continuously under ideal conditions. Originating from Madagascar, this plant is a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced gardeners due to its low-maintenance and drought-tolerant characteristics. It’s a truly captivating vibrant flowering succulent that brings a touch of the tropics to any setting. Whether you’re looking to enhance your indoor decor or add an exotic touch to your outdoor garden, the Red Crown of Thorns is an excellent selection. Its distinctive thorny stems and bright blooms make it a conversation starter.

This particular offering is a young starter plant, approximately 3-5 inches tall and grown in a 2-inch pot. While it will require a few years of care to reach its full mature size, growing it from a starter plant allows you to enjoy every stage of its development. The euphorbia milii plant is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and is recognized for its robust nature and ability to thrive in various environments, making it a versatile indoor outdoor succulent.

Key Benefits

Choosing the Red Crown of Thorns offers numerous advantages, from its aesthetic appeal to its ease of care. This plant is not just beautiful; it’s also incredibly rewarding to grow, providing continuous enjoyment with its persistent blooms and hardy nature. Here are some of the key benefits of adding this red crown of thorns live plant to your collection:

• Continuous Blooms: Enjoy nearly year-round vibrant red flowers (bracts) that add a constant pop of color to your space, unlike many other succulents that bloom seasonally.
• Drought-Tolerant Nature: This resilient succulent is highly adaptable to dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a low-water, low-maintenance plant. It’s a truly drought tolerant plant that forgives occasional neglect.
• Versatile Placement: Thrives both indoors as a decorative houseplant on sunny windowsills and outdoors in containers, rock gardens, or ornamental borders in warmer climates. Its adaptability makes it a perfect indoor outdoor succulent.
• Unique Aesthetic Appeal: Its distinctive thorny stems and bright red ‘flowers’ create a unique visual interest that stands out from other garden or houseplant varieties.
• Easy to Care For: Ideal for busy individuals or beginner gardeners, this plant requires minimal attention once established, thriving on neglect rather than over-care.
• Air Purifying Qualities: Like many houseplants, it contributes to a healthier indoor environment by helping to filter airborne toxins.
• Long Lifespan: With proper care, a euphorbia milii plant can live for many years, becoming a long-term fixture in your home or garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red crown of thorns live plant is relatively straightforward, especially given its resilient nature. This vibrant flowering succulent prefers warm, sunny conditions to produce its best blooms. For optimal health and continuous flowering, ensure it receives at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If grown indoors, a south-facing window is ideal; outdoors, choose a location with full sun to partial shade. Remember, the brightest red blooms occur in full sun. In USDA zones 9–11, it can be grown outdoors year-round, but in colder climates, it must be protected from frost or brought indoors.

When it comes to watering, moderation is key. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is a common mistake that can lead to root rot, so it’s crucial to have well-draining soil. A specialized succulent or cactus mix is highly recommended, as it prevents waterlogging. During the winter months, reduce watering significantly as the plant enters a period of slower growth. Fertilize sparingly during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer. This drought tolerant plant doesn’t require heavy feeding.

Some species of Euphorbia produce a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin, so it’s advisable to handle your euphorbia milii plant with care, especially when pruning or repotting. Wear gloves to avoid skin contact. Planting time is ideally in spring or early summer. If planting multiple specimens in the garden, space them 12–18 inches apart for optimal growth. Growing from a starter plant allows you to witness and nurture its development from a young age into a mature, beautiful specimen, making it a rewarding experience for any plant enthusiast looking for an indoor outdoor succulent.

Size & Details

This offering is for a young red crown of thorns live plant, which arrives as a healthy, well-rooted starter plant. It measures approximately 3-5 inches in height from the soil line and comes pre-potted in a 2-inch nursery pot. While the initial size is compact, this vibrant flowering succulent has the potential to grow significantly larger over time, typically reaching mature heights of 2-3 feet when grown in optimal conditions, though some varieties can grow taller. The growth rate is moderate, meaning you’ll see steady progress with consistent care.

Your plant will be carefully grown in our nursery and shipped with protective packaging to ensure it arrives safe and fresh. It is ready to thrive in its new environment, whether you choose to transplant it into a larger decorative pot for indoor display or integrate it into your outdoor garden landscape. Growing from a starter plant allows you to cultivate a strong, healthy specimen from the beginning. Expect to enjoy its characteristic red blooms as it matures, adding continuous color to your space. This drought tolerant plant is a long-term investment in beauty and resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this red crown of thorns live plant get? A: This starter plant is 3-5 inches tall. With proper care, it can grow to an average of 2-3 feet tall, though some varieties may get larger over several years.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The euphorbia milii plant is versatile and can be grown both indoors as a houseplant or outdoors in warm climates (USDA zones 9–11). It makes an excellent indoor outdoor succulent.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: It prefers full sun, meaning at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight daily, especially for the brightest red blooms. It can tolerate partial shade, but flowering may be less prolific.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, it is considered very easy to care for due to its drought-tolerant nature and minimal needs, making it a great choice for beginners looking for a drought tolerant plant.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive healthy and well-rooted in a 2-inch pot, carefully packaged to protect it during transit. Some minor leaf drop upon arrival is normal.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: Spring or early summer is ideal for planting or transplanting your vibrant flowering succulent.
• Q: What kind of soil does it need? A: It requires well-draining soil, such as a succulent or cactus mix, to prevent root rot.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: It is hardy in USDA zones 9–11. If you live in a colder zone, you will need to bring your plant indoors before the first frost.
• Q: Can I propagate this plant? A: Yes, Crown of Thorns can be propagated from stem cuttings. Allow the cut end to callus before planting in well-draining soil.
• Q: Is the sap irritating? A: Yes, the milky sap produced by the euphorbia milii plant can be irritating to the skin and eyes, so handle with care and wear gloves when pruning.