Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Euphorbia horrida hybrid hort.

• Euphorbia horrida Boiss.
• Euphorbia horrida var. gigas hort., Lavranos

Description: The hybrids of Euphorbia horridaSN|13381]]SN|13381]] are very common in the trade and in the collections. This hybrids involves several different species (often resulted from accidental crosses) and are widely propagated for their quality. They are a very strong and easy to grow spiny succulent that looks a lot like an American cactus and will readily form large clumps. They are extremely variable due to their hybrid origin and have many varieties and forms. Many of the plants sold as Euphorbia horridaSN|13381]]SN|13381]] are actuality hybrids. It is however very difficult to identify the species involved in this crosses and is hard to tell apart the exact ancestors only by body characteristics.
Stem: Erect, cylindrical 3 to 150 mm thick, up to 75 cm tall.
Ribs: 6 to 20, usually wing-like, prominent.
Spines: Very variable in form, size and hardiness, usually ark purple (quickly weathering to grey) 5-40 mm long, they are actually the dried remnants of its flower stalks and are very rigid.
Flowers: Very small variable from yellowish-green to dark purple blooms in spring and summer.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a pretty easy plant, it grow well in a very draining mineral potting substrate but it isn't picky about soil, the area where this plant is native receives rains in both winter and summer, so it can be watered moderately all year around (except in the coldest month of the winter as it rot easily especially if over wet ) During the summer, they enjoy average feeding and watering. Mature healthy plants are tough and can also be grown out of where frost is not too severe , it can tolerate temperatures down -4°C (-10° C if the roots are kept dry). It like Light shade to full sun, but different clones vary in their tolerance of full sunshine. The general rule is that the smaller and rounder the variety, the less it can tolerate full sunshine.

Propagation: It is propagated from seed sown during spring or summer. Germination occurs within 3 weeks but it can be reproduced by cuttings (The larger forms tend to branch enthusiastically and offsets are readily available) if you remove an offset, remember to let it dry for a week or so, letting the wound heal (cutting planted to soon easily rot before they can grow roots). It is better to wash the cut to remove the latex.
Warning: As with all other Euphorbias when a plant get damaged it exudes a thick white milky sap known as latex. This latex is poisonous and may irritate skin, and pay extreme attention not to get any in your eyes or mouth. Cultivated plants must be handled carefully.