African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida)
African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida) is a plant of succulent leaves that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida).
This plant is commonly known as African milk barrel.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: African milk barrel
Scientific name: Euphorbia horrida
Plant type: Cactus / Succulent, Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Clump-forming
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida) – NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cacti and succulent plants are appreciated for their natural charm, mainly for their leaf shapes, but also in some cases for their colorful flowers in spring and summer.
They should be cultivated in areas that mimic the conditions in which they grow in nature, which are usually exposed places with stony and fast-draining soils.
These characteristics make them to be grown in pots.
Other types of Euphorbia to consider:
See all Euphorbia
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Euphorbia horrida likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing African milk barrel (Euphorbia horrida) – Dinkum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
