Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) in the Euphorbias Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Shrub Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic Dry Mesic
Plant Height:	24-36 inches
Plant Spread:	20-24 inches
Fruit:	Pops open explosively when ripe
Flowers:	Showy Other: In the genus Euphorbia, the flowers are reduced in size and aggregated into a cluster of flowers called a cyathium (plural cyathia). This feature is present in every species of the genus Euphorbia but nowhere else in the plant kingdom.
Flower Color:	Orange Pink Purple Red White Yellow Bi-Color
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Year Round Other: Varies
Suitable Locations:	Xeriscapic
Uses:	Will Naturalize
Dynamic Accumulator:	B (Boron)
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Hummingbirds
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Drought tolerant
Toxicity:	Leaves are poisonous Roots are poisonous Other: All parts of Euphorbias can be toxic
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem Cuttings: Tip
Pollinators:	Bees
Containers:	Suitable in 1 gallon Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous:	With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Common names

Crown of Thorns
Siamese Lucky Plant
Euphorbia
Corona de Cristo
Christ Plant

Photo Gallery

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-08-27

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-05-07

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-02-27
Euphorbia milii - Yellow Crown Of Thorns 006

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2018-12-25
White-flowered form

Uploaded by csandt

Location: Arenas Valley, NM My Greenhouse
Date: 2018-04-15

Uploaded by plantmanager

Uploaded by hlutzow

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2015-06-23

Uploaded by sunkissed

Uploaded by Hamwild

Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-01-08

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2022-03-02

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: Baja California
Date: 2012-04-26
Nice reddish color after the rain

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Date: March 7 2022

Uploaded by jooshewa

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-02-19

Uploaded by sunkissed

Uploaded by Hamwild

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-09-05
Yellow Crown Of Thorns 003

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Summerwinds Nursery, Phoenix Arizona
Date: 2016-05-18

Uploaded by plantmanager

Uploaded by Floridian

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2015-05-20

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by hlutzow

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2/19/2016

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by queen1694

Location: Opp, AL Z8b
Date: 2022-03-31
Propagations showing new growth emerging from below the soil.

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Uploaded by hlutzow

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-01-02
I think I have a dwarf or mini cultivar

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2020-08-28

Uploaded by chhari55

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-03-21
Golden Crown Of Thorns 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: North latitude GPS Latitude 16, 1' 40.202" East longitude GPS Longitude 80, 13' 53.124"

Uploaded by chhari55

Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Date: 2017-02-27

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Conservatory, Hidden Lake Gardens, Michigan
Date: 2018-01-26
Euphorbia milii 'Orange Kaleidoscope' - cultivar not in the datab

Uploaded by arctangent

Uploaded by Floridian

Location: Summer Winds Nursery, Scottsdale, Arizona
Date: 2017-05-03

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: Opp, AL Z8b
Date: 2022-03-31
Propagation that survived winter.

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Date: 2013-04-02

Uploaded by jeri11

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by plantcollector

Uploaded by queen1694

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2023-07-03
New growth. Cutting successfully rooted.

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Uploaded by Floridian

Location: Portland Nursery, Portland Or.

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Ridesredmule

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2018-06-30

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by Fleur569

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2016-10-24

Uploaded by sunkissed

Location: Conservatory, Hidden Lake Gardens, Michigan
Date: 2018-01-26
Euphorbia milii 'Orange Kaleidoscope' - cultivar not in the data

Uploaded by arctangent

Location: My living room
Date: December 2019
The monster inside for the winter

Uploaded by gardenfish

Uploaded by Floridian

Uploaded by Floridian

Uploaded by Floridian

Uploaded by Floridian

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Sebstian, Florida
Date: 2015-05-20

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by Hamwild

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-08-17
Golden Crown Of Thorns 005

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-11-03
Crown Of Thorns 004

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanic Garden La Concepcion Malaga
Date: 2017-02-27

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Sarasota, FL
Date: 2015-04-30
At Selby Gardens

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-05-30

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: In a pot in my front yard, N Watauga TX
Date: 2011-10-11
Brilliant little flowers

Uploaded by Debnes

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 24mar2016

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by ljones26

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by DavidofDeLand

Location: In our garden - Central valley area, CA
Date: 2012-04-25
Euphorbia milii leafless, showing its thorns and new bracts formi

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Date: August, 2013
in full sun, good drainage, high humidity, lots of water

Uploaded by extranjera

Uploaded by jooshewa

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia, US
Date: 2019-03-20
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii). Known as Christ plant and Chri

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Location: San Diego, Ca
Date: 2013-08-16
Photo taken at Balboa Park, San Diego, Ca

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by HunterSThompson

Uploaded by HunterSThompson

Location: in my living room, I will put it into a western facing window.
Date: 2011-10-20
This plant is about 6-7 years old

Uploaded by Ridesredmule

Location: Decatur, GA
Date: 2017-09-17
Crown of Thorns blooms

Uploaded by jkeeton7213

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by Rosegal

Uploaded by Rosegal

Uploaded by Rosegal

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-02-04
Crown Of Thorns 008

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-028-04
Crown Of Thorns 009

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-07-28
Golden Crown Of Thorns 003

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Mt Penang Botanical Gardens, Kariong, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2018-05-03

Uploaded by carolem

Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2011-12-31

Uploaded by Kelli

Location: Home
Date: 11/19/2010
a young E. milii

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2008-04-16

Uploaded by Kelli

Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-11-29
Crown of thorns, red

Uploaded by Deebie

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) - St Louis
Date: 8-9-11

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois-Washington Park Botanical Garden -Springfield, Il.
Date: 2015-12-05

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by sunkissed

Uploaded by LAGardengirl

Uploaded by ljones26

Location: Balboa Park - San Diego, California
Date: 2013-08-16

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by JayZeke

Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2012-02-13

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: In our garden - Central Valley area, CA
Date: 2012-05-16
Very first bloom/bract of my Euphorbia milii

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by LAGardengirl

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by lauriebasler

Location: San Diego, Ca
Date: 2013-08-16

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by HunterSThompson

Location: At our garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 2013-08-16
Euphorbia millii - all leaves no blooms August 2013

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by Suga

Uploaded by piksihk

Uploaded by Suga

Uploaded by Suga

Location: Decatur, GA
Date: 2017-09-17
Thorns and stems

Uploaded by jkeeton7213

Uploaded by Rosegal

Location: Washington Park Botanical Garden - Springfield, Il.
Date: 2016-03-26

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by carolem

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-08-17
Golden Crown Of Thorns 004

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2013-01-03

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: central Illinois
Date: 11-16-12

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: It is on vacation outside til we bring it in for winter.
Date: 2011-10-02
Yellow crown of thorns

Uploaded by ridesredmule

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-03-16
Crown Of Thorns 015

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: San Diego, California
Date: 2013-08-16

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by JayZeke

Location: Belle Isle Conservatory, Detroit, MI
Date: 2015-07-17

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by ljones26

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Dutchlady1 on Sep 29, 2011 2:04 PM concerning plant:

I am using these as underplanting for my plumeria since they keep their foliage and blooms throughout the winter in my area, whereas the plumeria are bare.

Reply to this comment
Posted by chuck7701 (McKinney, TX (DFW) - Zone 8a) on Mar 22, 2015 11:07 AM concerning plant:

Propagating this plant is very easy from cuttings or branches broken off main plant. It is a type of succulent, so very hardy. However, any new cuttings or branches broken off NEED TO DRY FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS before repotting to harden and seal the pieces. Planting too soon will encourage rot at the cutting site, and you will lose the whole piece.

When cutting, use newspaper or do the cutting on grass as the white sap is very sticky and hard to remove. Do not know about toxicity of sap, but best to be cautious with sap. Goes dormant in the winter and loses all the leaves when I bring it in to overwinter.

Reply to this comment
Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Oct 21, 2011 11:57 AM concerning plant:

Native to Madagascar, Euphorbia milii is a woody, succulent shrub with dense, spiny stems that scramble and climb and can reach to 6'. Blooms appear all year round but especially during the winter months. The flowers are tiny and inconspicuous but the bracts appear in colors from red, pink, yellow and white. The plant exudes a latex sap that can cause severe dermatitis in some individuals.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Jun 8, 2017 1:52 PM concerning plant:

Most crown of thorns in cultivation, especially those with extra large flowers, are not the species E. milii but hybrids (for example with E. lophogona). These hybrids can be quite diverse in form and flower color, and some people collect them for this reason.

Provide good drainage and regular water. These plants, from tropical Madagascar, enjoy more water than most succulents, especially in containers and especially during the summer, but they can be quite drought tolerant, especially in the ground. Easy to start from rooted cuttings. May attract bees and hummingbirds. May branch at the base and/or along stems higher up (depends on the variety). May be self-fertile and self-seeding in the container garden. Many/most crown of thorns flower year round in mild climates.

Reply to this comment
Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Oct 26, 2011 12:59 PM concerning plant:

As with other Euphorbias, E. milii requires a slightly richer soil than do many succulents. They make good houseplants and are not bothered by low humidity. They also grow well under artificial lights.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
Suga	On November 5, 2016	Obtained plant Ordered from Logee's and it is supposed to be a dwarf ðŸŒ± r
antsinmypants	On July 3, 2023	Cuttings took New growth emerging.
antsinmypants	On May 15, 2023	Cuttings stuck
antsinmypants	On May 14, 2023	Miscellaneous Event Obtained cutting.
MotherMycelium	On February 2, 2021	Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc) Rot got him
piksihk	On September 13, 2023	Miscellaneous Event It has rot on middle of stem; cut the top part off. Will try rooting it.
piksihk	On September 12, 2023	Bloomed First blooms- yellow color
piksihk	On May 6, 2023	Obtained plant

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
crown of thorns by pa2nc	Sep 9, 2014 5:11 PM	5
Question by cherryb1ossoms	Oct 13, 2015 11:17 PM	3
Hummingbirds and crown of thorns by MySecretIslandGarden	Jun 4, 2022 3:30 PM	1

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Euphorbias Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)

Euphorbias

Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)