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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurges) |
| Origin: Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Fall |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Euphorbia aphylla (Leafless Spurge) - A slow growing evergreen succulent shrub that typically grows 1 to 2 feet tall but older plants can possibly reach to around 3 feet. It is densely branched with a short brownish corky trunk and pencil-like green stems that branch in whorls and have tiny scale-like leaves that fall off quickly after emerging, which makes the plant generally appear leafless. Yellow flowers (technically the cyathium) are clustered tightly at the branch tips starting in early spring and continuing with some flowers through fall, and consist of at central greenish flowers emerging from the cyathia surrounded by 3 to 5 small petal-like yellow nectar guides. Plant in full sun in a fairly well drained soil and irrigate infrequently to not at all. It has proven hardy to at least 25°F and likely can withstand short duration temperatures a bit lower. It is a halophyte that is tolerant of salty and near seashore conditions. This is a great small tough shrub for the dry garden. It is is native to the Canary Islands and found on the north coast of largest island, Gran Canaria, where it is often found growing close to the ocean on coastal rocks and bluffs. It is also found in similar areas on the northwest and southern side of Tenerife and also on La Gomera. The French naturalist Pierre Marie Auguste Broussonet (1861-1807) initially described Euphorbia aphylla in his Elenchus Plantarum Horti Botanici Monspeliensis in 1804, but the its description was determined not to meet the standards for valid publication and the name was republished by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1809, a couple years after Broussonet's death . For this reason the plant is correctly listed as Euphorbia aphylla Brouss. ex Willd. The specific epithet comes from the Greek words 'a' meaning "without" and 'phyllon' meaning "leaf" in reference to this plant being without leaves. Other common names include Milk Hedge and Candelabra Cactus. We thanks John Bleck for introducing us to this plant and allowing us to take cuttings from his nice specimen plant.
The information provided on this page is based on research we have conducted about this plant in our nursery's library, from what we have found about it on reliable online sources, as well as from observations in our nursery of crops of this plant as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens. We will also incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Euphorbia aphylla. |
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