John Rickard
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA horrida
Plant Common Name
African Milk Barrel
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Modern designers love the silver metallic sheen of this unusual, rock hard succulent, which is also a favorite of collectors. It is native to very steep rocky terrain in coastal South Africa where plants often nestle into boulders to tap moisture protected underground. What makes this plant so fabulous is its silvery coloring, which remains consistent year around. Its spherical form with many angled edges resembles a true cactus, bearing modest black or gray thorns the length of a thumbnail. The juvenile sphere gradually elongates with age while producing offsets to create a large mature clump.
This plant develops flowering eyes along its many sharp vertical ridges. These bear short flower stalks, much like spines topped with small yellow flowers. These mature into tiny brick red fruits. Each flowering eye may later bear a large spine or group of them, which is formed from the now sterile stalk. This species does very well in rock garden conditions with good drainage in a frost-free climate where individuals can reach great size. However, it is almost always grown in wide shallow containers such as a bonsai pot, with very porous mineral soil in bright light. This euphorbia may be treated as a conservatory specimen or window sill plant Move outdoors for a summer table top garden or as a patio plant provided it is not subjected to frequent summer rains. In low desert conditions or high altitude, keep lightly shaded to prevent disfiguring sunburn.
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Yellow
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Fruit Color
Dark Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Silver
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Silver
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Silver
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Silver
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Bold
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
