Euphorbia Succulent: Popular garden varieties & Tips to care

Popular with the guttural name spurge, Euphorbia succulent is a popular species of houseplant among gardening lovers. This genus comprises hardy perennial plants and has succulents like tropical’s, pencil cactus, and shrubs with very sharp spines.

They are easy to grow succulent plants that are hard and suffer from fewer issues. Known for their vibrant leaves and unique flower shapes, these plants are an extraordinary addition to your garden, meadows, or space.

The hardy spurges are becoming very popular in the perennial borders in the entire continent and also Europe. Their unique shapes, colors are sizes are attracting these lovely succulents to each garden. The latest varieties have royal leaf colors and rosettes, in copper, creamy-white, burgundy, royal purple, and blue-green.

The world of euphorbia succulent

Euphorbia succulent has a wide range of plants with over 2,000 species in total. The succulents among these are 1200 in total, with unusual shapes and broad, thick leaves, and that looks quite a lot like cacti with spines. Gardeners usually call these plants Euphorbia or spurge. Euphorbia can be a tricky genus, with the addition and deletion of species now and then.

Euphorbia succulent varieties

These plants have annual, biennial, perennial species in this genus. You can see herbaceous plants and shrub types, and also both deciduous and green species. The common thing about these species is the milky white sap in them, which can also be toxic and poisonous for some people. Individuals with allergies to latex will possibly create a reaction to coming in contact with the Euphorbia succulent.

Also, the flowers with attractive shapes and colors are a point commonality of the euphorbia family. The most common display is the poinsettias. These parts are not just flowers but a better version of leaves known as bracts. The actual blooms are small and non-flowery types. One profit of having these bracts is that the flower heads endure long after the plant blooms.

To know about this widespread genus and how to take care of them, read on, and you will get a better idea about euphorbia succulent plants. They can get tricky but are not very difficult to understand.

Some popular varieties are as follows

Cushion spurge

It is also known as Euphorbia polychrome. This plant is a perennial that grows twelves to eighteen inches in height. It blooms with yellow flowers in the spring season. It is suitable to grow in zones 4 to 8.

Basketball euphoria

Basketball euphorbia

This plant is also called Euphorbia obesa. It is a tiny euphorbia succulent with circular, round stems that become cylindrical with time as the plant grows older. It is commonly grown as an indoor plant but can survive in some weather conditions in the outdoors also.

Donkey-tail spurge

The scientific name is known as Euphorbia myrsinites. It is a trailing perennial that grows up to one foot and has blue-gray foliage. It also blooms with its insignificant yellow flowers in spring. This plant does well outside but needs a little more pruning as they tend to overgrow.

Wood spurge

This succulent is also called Euphorbia amygdaloides. It is a thick evergreen euphorbia species that can grow up to twelve inches tall and bloom with yellow flowers in mid or late spring. It can be grown in the outdoors with zones six to eight.

Crown of thorns

Also known as Euphorbia milii, this is an abundant evergreen plant. It has a height of up to six feet when in outdoor gardens. You can grow this euphorbia species indoors. But in such environments, it will not reach its ideal tallness. This plant offers a range of colorful flowers in red, pink, or yellow that bloom quite often.

To know more about euphorbia plant varieties, you can check this video at

It will give you details about more kinds that are popular and widely preferable.

Taking care of your Euphorbia succulent

Euphorbia succulent care is quite simple. They need a little love to bloom and thrive at their best, but once they are grown, these plants are self-sufficient. And if you take extra care, your succulents might die, precisely by overwatering, then from ignorance. These plants are hardy and are great to plant if you are a beginner.

Ensure that you provide your Euphorbia succulent with soil that has good drainage. Or else moist soil can speedily cause root rot and damage your plant. While growing this plant in a container, make plenty of drainage holes at the bottom for excess water to pass out. Some containers allow extra moisture to evaporate through their walls as well.

So, you can also plant these succulents in such containers for the best results. Give your succulents ample light and occasional watering. Giving extra water can cause powdery residue and other problems on the leaves of your plant. Trimming is necessary only for overgrown succulents so that they come back to a decent size.

Sunlight

Sunlight plays a vital role in all types of succulents. The Euphorbia succulent prefers to be in full sunlight, which means at least six hours of intense direct sunlight regularly. However, some of these succulents can thrive in part shade. In warm climates, little afternoon shade can work the best for most species.

Planting soil

Is your succulent soil well-draining? Every Euphorbia species, precisely the succulent types, requires well-draining soil. Use sandy soil that has slightly acidic to neutral pH as it is the best. Some of them do well in a little alkaline soil as well. If you are growing Euphorbias in containers, ensure you plant them in a cactus or succulent potting mix.

Watering techniques

It is a crucial caring part of your succulent; water only the top inches of soil till it does not turn dry again. If you keep watering them, then your plant will be susceptible to root rot. In the winters, limit the watering and only moisten the plant if there are signs of dry leaves.

Temperature and Moisture

Most Euphorbia succulent can survive in warm temperatures and like a hot environment with a daytime temperature up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Tolerance to cold surroundings varies from species to species. Some of them can survive in a light frost, and others do not thrive well in temperatures under 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Their humidity tolerance also depends on the succulent. It is essential to have proper ventilation around these plants as high humidity can lead to fungal disease.

Fertilizing your Euphorbia

These requirements depend on the Euphorbia species, but overall, all of these succulents will profit from little fertilizer. By adding compost or organic fertilizer to new plants will give them a whole and healthy growth. Also, several Euphorbia plants do well with a mild liquid fertilizer and do not need a lot of fertilization continually. Plants in containers typically require more feeding than the succulents grown in the garden. If your plant is developing yellow leaves, then it needs some feeding.

Pests, diseases, and infestation

Euphorbia succulent usually grow problem-free. However, a few creatures find their milky sap and sharp spines quite alluring. Yet, there are some pests and infections that you need to take care of occasionally. The most common insects are Mealybugs and spider mites. They will suck on the sap and weaken them, and eventually, your plant will die.

Both of these insects can multiply rapidly, so ensure you get rid of them immediately. Identifying these pests is the best way to avoid them. Using Insecticidal soaps and some oils are non-toxic remedies. Moreover, root rotting and fungal infections can happen if the plant sits in water for a long. Try to correct the plant’s growing situation before loading it up with fungicides.

Propagating these succulents

Propagating euphorbia succulent

Euphorbia succulent is easy to grow by seeds, but is tough to find in the market. The propagation of this succulent is by stem cuttings that are re-grown in soil mix or cactus mix. When you cut a fresh piece, they ooze sap which can be irritating, so take protective measures while handling them.

Also, allow the cuttings to dry overnight, as this will improve your growth rate after rooting the stem. Keep these fresh plants lightly moist to develop roots. Once you notice sturdiness when you try to pull the succulent, your plant is ready. And you can keep it anywhere you wish to in your garden or home.

Now that you know all about euphorbia succulent and the genus, you can successfully plant one in your garden. They are easy to care for and do not need much attention. And to top it all, they look great with their extraordinary shapes and colors. More knowledge results in better gardening, so to know more about succulents, check the other blogs. They will help reveal insights, tips, and secrets that will help make your garden bloom all the time.