Euphorbia Species, Hybrids, Crown of Thorns, Christ Plant, Siamese Lucky Plant, Corona de Cristo
Euphorbia milii
Family: | Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Euphorbia (yoo-FOR-bee-uh) (Info) |
Species: | milii (MIL-ee-eye) (Info) |
Synonym: | Euphorbia bojeri |
Synonym: | Euphorbia rubrostriata |
Synonym: | Sterigmanthe bojeri |
Synonym: | Tumalis bojeri |

Category:
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Deciduous
Foliage Color:
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Suitable for growing in containers
Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Pink
Red
Coral/Apricot
Pale Yellow
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Under 1"
Bloom Time:
Blooms all year
Blooms repeatedly
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
Seed Collecting:
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Cave Creek, Arizona
Goodyear, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Anaheim, California
Chino Hills, California
Clayton, California
Encino, California
Fallbrook, California(5 reports)
Fontana, California
Hidden Meadows, California
Lompoc, California
Long Beach, California
Mission Viejo, California
Reseda, California
San Diego, California
Solvang, California
Spring Valley, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Venice, California
Visalia, California
Yorba Linda, California
Pueblo, Colorado
Alachua, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)
Groveland, Florida
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Hialeah, Florida
Holiday, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)
Jupiter, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
Lakeland, Florida(2 reports)
Lehigh Acres, Florida
Longwood, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Naples, Florida(2 reports)
New Port Richey, Florida(2 reports)
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Panama City Beach, Florida
Port Charlotte, Florida
Punta Gorda, Florida(2 reports)
Safety Harbor, Florida
Saint James City, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Sarasota, Florida(2 reports)
Satellite Beach, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
Augusta, Georgia
Tunnel Hill, Georgia
Honomu, Hawaii
Makaha, Hawaii
Makaha Valley, Hawaii
Nanakuli, Hawaii
Village Park, Hawaii
Waianae, Hawaii
Waipahu, Hawaii
Waipio, Hawaii
Olathe, Kansas
Gray, Louisiana
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
Vidalia, Louisiana
Federalsburg, Maryland
Oakland, Maryland
Gulfport, Mississippi
Dixon, Missouri
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Deposit, New York
Poughkeepsie, New York
Carrboro, North Carolina
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Gold Beach, Oregon
Mc Keesport, Pennsylvania
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Gold Coast, Queensland
Conway, South Carolina
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Austin, Texas
Brazoria, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Bulverde, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Deer Park, Texas
Dickinson, Texas
Houston, Texas(2 reports)
La Porte, Texas
Livingston, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Mcallen, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
Pearland, Texas
Port Lavaca, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
San Benito, Texas
Santa Fe, Texas
Sugar Land, Texas
Ogden, Utah
Manassas, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Goldendale, Washington
Maryhill, Washington
Appleton, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Positive | On Nov 24, 2020, AFinSD from San Diego, CA wrote: I recently acquired a small Euphorbia millii with white flowers at a local store. It is currently in bloom, and I just love the flowers. |
Positive | On Jul 13, 2020, Babsalot from Oak Ridge, TN (Zone 9a) wrote: It took me a long time to figure this plant out and it's been on death's door and back many times so I can attest to it being a hardy plant that wants to live. It's now one of my favorite plants because it is a beautiful and unique looking plant. I also feel invested in it because at one point it had like 4 leaves across 6 stems and now it is lush and happy. |
Positive | On Mar 14, 2016, camille4 from Fulton, TX wrote: I have had this for many years and my father before me. I now have a red, a yellow and a coral which is a bit different. Am wanting to hear other comments about the coral one. Live on mid Texas coast and got the coral one here. The green leaves are larger than the others as are the flowers. 2years ago during a cold snap, lost the blooms on the coral one and they didn't return until now. All of last year couldn't do anything to get it to bloom although rest of plant was fine. Didn't even see coral listed as color here. It is a definately a bright coral color and as I said leaves are about twice as large........ |
Positive | On Jul 29, 2014, mskasik from New Braunfels, TX wrote: New Braunfels, Texas is in Zone 8a/8b. The Crown of Thorns stays outside all spring, summer and fall. I shelter the plant on a west-facing, protected porch for the winter and put up a frost cloth when it gets to about 35 degrees. Cuttings root easily. Let the plant heal over several days before placing the cutting in the ground. We have an anole (green lizard) that sleeps on the tallest spike every night and laps up the nectar in the flowers. I water it once a week and it get full sun most of the afternoon. |
Positive | On Apr 4, 2014, surfrdie from Melbourne Beach, FL (Zone 10b) wrote: Coastal central Florida. A tenant planted this years ago under a palm tree. It never gets watered , pruned or fertilized. Grows great without any care. Continues to multiply. |
Positive | On May 9, 2013, frostycat from Visalia, CA wrote: I live in an area of low humidity with average annual temps from 28 to 110 degrees (F), zone 8. I've been growing two varieties of Crown of Thorns for 7 years (the largest plant is 4ft tall). The winters are too cold outside for the CofT's, luckily I have the window space to accommodate them during the coldest months. |
Positive | On Sep 14, 2012, gbirdie from Jacksonville, FL wrote: bought this plant for 1$ at our annual garden club sale. Love cacti and succulents. It has doubled in size in 6 months. Blooms continuously. Gets about 4 hours direct sun daily. Gets quite a bit of water from frequent summer showers and twice a week sprinkler system. It will come in for temps at freezing. We usually have several hard freezes a year. |
Positive | On Nov 5, 2011, sharonjean42 from Albemarle, NC (Zone 7a) wrote: I live in NC zone 7. My COTs are outside in sun all summer. |
Positive | On May 16, 2011, chuck7701 from McKinney, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Easy to grow and propagate. They do burn or freeze easily in cold weather even if the temps are not at freezing. The roots like to stay cool, and avoiding full afternoon sun hot areas is best. Put mine in garage to go dormant and drop leaves, then bring inside for winter. |
Neutral | On Jan 30, 2011, sunkissed from Winter Springs, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: This says cold hardy to 25 degrees, not in Central FL zone 9B. They will not come back if temperatures dip into the twenties for any more than a few hours. I've lost any that were in the ground. I now keep them in a huge planter pot and if the temperatures are going below freezing I put them inside the porch. Last year I had four potted plants and put them inside my shed, two nights with temperatures down to mid twenties for more than four hours still killed two of them. So the two I have left go inside when it is going below 37. Mine are all from rootings off my father's plants, they are very easy to propagate from stem clippings. They can grow in shade but won't bloom like they do in sunlight, but I've seen the leaves burn in too much sun. Morning sun and afternoon shade is the best. Don... read more |
Positive | On Jan 10, 2011, NB62 from Ogden, UT (Zone 6b) wrote: I have had my Crown of Thorns for at least 10yrs. It stands 35in.from the soil. It has many branches and I'm always finding new ones starting here and there. The main stock is the tallest but because of so many others I stuck a thin bamboo stake in the pot and use plant velcro tape loosely to support any stocks I think need it. It has always sat between a south & west window on the cabinette in a breakfast nook.They both have overhangs but it still gets some sun and blooms great. In the winter I found if I place a warm air humdifier in it's area it not only stops leaf drop but blooms better in winter. I water it from the bottom approx. every 2wks. with a weak solution of plant food. After reading so many good comments I'm going to increase it alittle more. In the spring I put it in the sho... read more |
Positive | On Dec 17, 2010, babs4 from Newport News, I love my crown of thorns. Purchased it 7 years ago as a baby-all of 5 inches tall. It's now over three-1/2 feet tall. Full of red flowers which bloom all year round. Just brought it inside for the winter...dropping a few leaves which is typical until it adjusts. Everyone who sees it cannot get over how healthy and full it is, not to mention its size. Couldn't be happier...just glad to hear it will max out around six feet. Getting it in and out of the florida room is a bit of a challenge. |
Positive | On Jul 3, 2010, kh2 from Ridgefield Park, NJ wrote: I have this plant, crown of thorns, it is now over 50 years old, my mother purchased it as a tiny plant, I now have it and it is well over 3 ft tall. I bring it out to the garden in the summer and put it back in the home for the winter. I dont think this plant will ever die on me, it has been neglected by me, sometimes-forgot to water-sooo sorry plant, but it is a very hardy plant. yes the thorns do make you itch when you get stuck, and you will get stuck when handling this plant, but all in all, it is a wonderful plant and easy to care for. so if anyone thinking of purchasing this plant remember this, it could and will be around for a very long time, that is if you take care of it. good luck to all whom grow it,. enjoy!! K |
Positive | On Jun 27, 2010, ShelbyInOz from Brisbane, When we bought our home 5 years ago, there was an empty little garden just outside my bathroom window. Everything I planted in it died after a short while... Then I discovered my cat was using the garden as his personal outdoor litter box. Solution = Two Crown of Thorns (one yellow, one red). Kitty doesn't like them, so stays out of the garden. They are hardy and attractive, and flower most of the time... so make attractive viewing from the window! They forgive you if you forget to water them.. but are occasionally troubled by grubs (a quick spray and we are good for another 6 months). Easily propagated from cuttings. All in all, a lot to love about this plant. Two thumbs up :) |
Positive | On May 25, 2010, CitizenVal from Manassas, VA wrote: I love my Thorny plant .. the thorns are like hypodermic needles and the flowers are bold red. I bought it in FL when it was maybe 6 inch and transported back to VA .. in the 2 years that I have had it, it has grown over a foot and now has "babies" growing everywhere. The stalk is thick and hardy. I keep it on my balcony where it only gets about 3 hours of sun per day, and I water it every few days. I wish I could post a picture..it's a very nice plant. |
Positive | On May 19, 2010, hollyjay from Carrboro, NC wrote: I have had this plant for 10+ years and for about half of that time it was neglected and/or not in full sun. It always bounces back, and has been blooming year round for 5 years now in a good window. We remodeled and had to move it, but it is not flowering now and has to go outside. I live in North Carolina. |
Positive | On Jan 14, 2010, promethean_spar from Union City, CA wrote: People grow this plant extensively in the Philippines, where it is hot and humid year-round and rains very often half the year. It doesn't seem to mind being continuously moist as long as it's warm. |
Positive | On Dec 29, 2009, Dolphinskye from Waianae, HI wrote: This plant brightens up my patio which has half a day of shade then blazing sun and occassional salty breeze. Owners in the building complain how difficult it is to keep any plant alive on their patio. With now a few cultivars of euphorbia on my patio, a pot of aloe vera, even my cattleya orchids can now grow well next to this protective euphoric color display. |
Negative | On Oct 10, 2009, vincentfrost from caloundra, i wish i can give this plant some good news, but i can't. |
Positive | On Jun 23, 2009, CabinHillGifts from Goldendale, WA wrote: The most beautiful and easy to grow indoor house plants I have ever had the joy of owning. I have always had it inside due to the extreme cold, extreme hot and extreme winds in my area and kept the children well away from it. This year I put it outside still in its inside pot. The wind ripped the beautiful flowers off right away and the big green leaves started to curl. Hubby looked at it one day when I was not around and thought it was dry so he watered it again. I later explained to him it was not dry but getting wind blown badly in the spot it was sitting, so he got the hand truck and moved it to another spot. Here is when we noticed the problem. When it was in the first location, some deer must have nibbled on the leaves, because some of them seem to have been snapped off next to but... read more |
Positive | On Jun 8, 2006, pforrester from Fallbrook, CA wrote: I live in 10b Southern CA. My mother-in-law brought this crown of thorns to our home when she moved in. It was in a pot outside and rarely watered b/c it was on the side of the house where I never saw it. So it was totally neglected for 4-5 years or longer but it survived. Last year I decided to plant it in full sun with a drip hose to it. It has grown a lot and is about 2' tall & round and flowers continually year round. It is very beautiful. It seems to be able to survive on little water and in the heat of summer but loves being planted in the ground with regular water and lots of sun. |
Positive | On Oct 4, 2005, Carren from Cave Creek, AZ wrote: I have two of these plants. Both are outside, full sun and in a terracotta pot. I placed a 3" plastic PVC pipe with holes in it, in the center of pot and planted around it. I water using a drip system which drips in the center of the PVC pipe. When our temps reach 110 - 115, I fill this pipe to the top, once a week. They are beautiful, full and lush with many flowers. |
Positive | On Jun 18, 2005, brugmansialover from Santa Maria, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: I love this plant, i currently have two red ones, one is outside and the other is inside, they both get full sun, and they just never stop blooming!!! If you are having trouble getting them too bloom, i suggest moving them to a sunny window, with at least 5 hours of sun, also fertalize with a bloom booster fertalizer, that is about 10-60-10, one with a high middle number, over 50 is better! And then just watch it bloom and bloom and bloom, i cant wait to get the other colors! |
Neutral | On Aug 21, 2004, beverlyf from Weimar, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I am a beginner with this plant. Right now, I am not doing good. I have it indoors and in a north window. It does not get direct sun. All the blooms are gone and some of the leaves are dying. Help! Do I need to get it to a sunny window? or what? |
Positive | On Aug 11, 2004, booliesmom from Sunnyvale, CA wrote: I picked up a couple of dying 3 inch plants from a produce stand about two years ago and they are marvelous! My plant is now about two feet tall and has three big branches and a baby that just formed. I had to cut a few branches off to make room for the new one, and not knowing anything about rooting hormone or letting them callous over before planting, I simply stuck them in dirt and watered them, and within about two months they had rapidly begun growing. People say to let them dry out before watering, but I just water every 3-4 days, and I have NEVER fertilized it. It's doing so well, I wonder how much better it would look if I DID. A truly fantastic plant. |
Positive | On Jul 27, 2004, CatskillKarma from West Kill, NY wrote: My husband has had a crown of thorns for more than the twenty years I've known him. He stakes his upright, but the ones I've seen at the Brooklyn Botanical garden are allowed to drape down a ledge. We keep it as a houseplant in a window with a half day of sun and it is perfectly happy. His flowers in intermittent bursts that appear seasonal. It is a slow grower, but has lasted longer than any other houseplant I have known. |
Positive | On Jul 26, 2004, AngeGuardien from Murray, KY wrote: I just received a small crown of thorns planting grown from a cutting from my grandparents. I live in western Kentucky. My grandparents live in south Georgia and have kept it as a house plant. The original plant belonged to my great-grandmother who lived in Manhatten. Sharing cuttings among family and friends is an interesting way to be connected across the ages and the miles! |
Positive | On Jul 9, 2004, msgrnthumb1 from Federalsburg, MD wrote: I have had my plant now for abour 4 years. My grand mother rooted it for me from her plant, and I have since rooted 3 babies from mine. The mother plant stands about 2 and one half feet tall, but only about 6 inches wide. It is so long I had to put a stake in the pot and tie the plant to it so it would stand. Is this common? |
Positive | On Jun 30, 2004, JenniferG from Shalimar, FL (Zone 8a) wrote: I have 2 of these guys as houseplants. No special care. No special fertilizer ( I use a very weak liquid fert. every time I water). Sunny window. Always in flower! Nice. |
Positive | On Jun 28, 2004, hanna1 from Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: I planted one in Carbon Canyon Ca, 91709, My soil was very alkyline. I watered it rarely, it grew fairly fast to a hight of 4ft and as wide. My parents had 2 in Anaheim, Ca 92802, sandy soil, and was rarely watered there, in 40 years it still stands at 6ft. |
Positive | On Apr 16, 2004, DaraMV wrote: I've several varieties of Crown of Thorns. They can be slow growing but put out a bunch of flowers. It is also one of my favorites plants because it never stops blooming! Crown of thorns come in hybrids with yellow, white, pink or red bracts. There are other hybrids with hydrangea-like bracts that can be bicolored and they are absolutely brilliant. |
Positive | On Mar 14, 2004, organist from Buffalo, NY wrote: I have two of these plants that have been house plants for about 30 years. One of them even seeded a new one for me. They are now in church, with a few cactus, as part of a Lenten display; very effective. |
Positive | On Aug 15, 2003, RIPPER039 from Banning, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: This plant does good here in Fontana, California. I keep it in the sun potted. I use aerated compost tea made with alfalfa, kelp, fish emulsion, compost, green sand to foliar feed (once every 10 days), 1 cup of tea to 4 cups of water and soil, alternating from diluted tea to plain water to Peters Bloom fertilizer at 1/4 strength- anytime I water. |
Neutral | On Aug 5, 2003, nipajo from Dallas, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I have two plants both in pots in the full sun outside. I have not seen any flowers, and the leaves are losing color they are not as green as when I had them in the house. I do not over-water but I must be doing something wrong. I live in Dallas so the heat is pretty intense. |
Positive | On Jul 20, 2003, texasplantlady from Dickinson, TX wrote: Gorgeous wood! |
Positive | On Jan 14, 2003, kalina wrote: it is also possible to grow these from root cuttings |
Negative | On Dec 2, 2002, cacoan wrote: This plant was sold to me with the presumption that it could handle harsh environments both the heat and cold. When we had our first cold snap I started looking around on the internet to find out more about them. They had already withstood a terrible drought earlier this year and I was impressed at this point because they still looked beautiful. |
Positive | On Nov 11, 2002, HSteinway wrote: In order to correctly cut this plant for propagation: |
Neutral | On Sep 8, 2001, JanetR from Ottawa, ON (Zone 4a) wrote: This woody semi-succulent from Madagascar is not the one used during Christ's crucifixion, despite claims to the contrary. Very popular in Thailand and other Asian countries where it is believed to bring good luck, there are an astonishing number of hybrids and cultivars, although only a limited number are available in North America. |