Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a conservatory or greenhouse grown type of plant 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 Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii).
This plant has several common names including: crown of thorns, Christ plant or Christ thorn.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn
Scientific name: Euphorbia milii
Plant type: Conservatory & Greenhouse, Houseplants, Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden, Sub-tropical
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 Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) – NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Other types of Euphorbia to consider:
See all Euphorbia
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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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 milii likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) – Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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