Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Signature Plants -- Euphorbia milii 'Dwarf Apache'

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

H03. Euphorbia milii 'Dwarf Apache'
Crown of thorns (cultivar)

Hardiness: USDA Zones 8–11
Full sun
Average soil
Grow in pot
1–2 feet tall

Euphorbia milii earns its common name from its long, flexible spiny stems. Legend has it that the plant, native to Madagascar, was introduced to the Middle East before the time of Jesus and was used to make the crown of thorns associated with the Crucifixion. 'Dwarf Apache', a compact cultivar, bears the species' thorny stems along with oval-shaped leaves and flowers with attractive small, pinkish-red bracts that bloom throughout the year. Place 'Dwarf Apache' in a sunny spot indoors and maintain well-drained soil. Like other euphorbias, this plant oozes an irritating latex from cut or broken stems, so keep it out of reach of pets.