Consulta Plantas

Care of the succulent plant Euphorbia canariensis or Canary Island spurge

The genus Euphorbia, family Euphorbiaceae, includes 2,000 species of succulents, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants of cosmopolitan distribution. Some species are: Euphorbia canariensis, Euphorbia meloformis, Euphorbia lomelii, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Euphorbia resinifera, Euphorbia candelabrum, Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia tithymaloides, Euphorbia regis-jubae, Euphorbia royleana, Euphorbia trigona, Euphorbia bivonae, Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia echinus, Euphorbia cotinifolia, Euphorbia rigida, Euphorbia handiensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Euphorbia coerulescens, Euphorbia leucocephala.

Common names: Canary Island spurge, Canary Candelaber Spurge, Hercules club. This species is native to the Canary Island.

They are succulent plants branched from the base that reach 3 meters (9.84 feet) in height. The stems are straight, spiny and have 4-6 edges. They produce very unattractive little brown flowers. It blooms in summer.

They are used in Mediterranean coastal gardens on rockeries and slopes and as a houseplant in well-lit locations.

Euphorbia canariensis prefers full sun exposure; they can grow in light shade. They need heat and do not resist temperatures below 8 ºC (46.4 ºF).

The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of peat and coarse sand. If it's grown in a pot, add a little garden substrate.

In spring and summer water moderately waiting for the substrate to dry. In autumn water every 3 weeks and in winter once a month.

Overwatering causes the roots to rot.

They propagate by seeds or by cuttings (in this case you have to watch out for fungal attack and irritating latex).

Images of the succulent plant Euphorbia canariensis or Canary Island spurge