In this viewer inspired video, find out about the euphorbia family of plants. One of the most well-known euphorbias is poinsettia. Another one, featured in this video, is Christ thorns (Euphorbia splendens.)
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Today, I have another viewer-inspired videoâa question from Leslie Wheeler, who asks: “What is a euphorbia?”
Right here, I have an example of a euphorbia. This beauty is called Euphorbia splendens, also known as Christ’s Thorns. As you can see, it is thorny. I’ll show you a close-up so you can see the thorns, and I’ll talk a bit more about euphorbias and their characteristics.
Euphorbias belong to the spurge family of flowering plants. Many of them flower, like this one. The spurge family is quite large, with more than 6,700 species and 218 genera. Many members of this family serve as food sources, while others provide waxes, oils, or even medicines. However, be careful when pruning a euphorbia, as the sap can be very irritating.
Some euphorbias, like this one, have spines and are often mistaken for cacti, but they are a completely unique genus. They belong to the Euphorbiaceae family, commonly called the spurge family. Another well-known euphorbia is the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). While poinsettias look different, especially without thorns, there are similarities, like the red color in their flowers.
Although euphorbias aren’t cacti, they are succulentsâat least a little less than half of them are. Many popular houseplants are euphorbias, including poinsettias, though they can be tricky to grow indoors.
Most euphorbias have leaves, though some don’t. They contain a white latex sap in their stems, which can cause skin irritation and be harmful to your eyes. Always wear gloves when pruning your euphorbia, and avoid touching your face.
This particular euphorbia, Euphorbia splendens, is a small shrub that likes to curl and reach out. I let this one grow as it liked, giving it a more natural, less rigid look. However, if you plan to grow a larger one, you may want to train it to grow upright. Larger euphorbias can develop a substantial trunk, and once they lean, they are difficult to reposition.
So, there you have itâwhat a euphorbia is! Thank you for stopping by today. Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video. And please check the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.
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