Common name: Orchid Crown of Thorns
Botanical name: Euphorbia milii splendens Family: Euphorbiaceae (castor family)
The largest of the Crown of Thorns with 1" orchid red blooms and large stiff
canes creating a somewhat more upright mature specimen.
E. milii, a native to Madagascar, is a succulent, with thick, fleshy stems
adapted for water storage. The stems are 5-7 sided, greyish-brown, branched &
up to 2-3' in height, with many prominent, grey 1" spines. The leaves tend to
be obovate (wider near the tip), up to 1½ long, but much larger (to 6") in
the Thai hybrids. They are spirally arranged, have smooth margins, & vary from
bright green to grey-green. Foliage is present only on new growth. E. milii
var splendens is similar, but grows to 5-6'.
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ntroduced