Euphorbia suzannae
| Light | Bright light to some direct sun; a little shade from fierce afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the soil dry fully between waterings, keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above about 10 °C; USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; offsets/cuttings; often needs two plants to set seed |
| Toxicity | Toxic — milky latex irritates skin and eyes (see below) |
Euphorbia suzannae is a small, clustering succulent from South Africa that forms dense mounds of many soft-spined, tuberculate green globes. Each firm little head is ribbed and covered in rows of low, cone-shaped tubercles, so that a well-grown clump looks rather like a huddle of tiny green pineapples. It is a compact, slow-growing member of the genus Euphorbia and a long-time favourite with succulent collectors.
Description
Euphorbia suzannae begins life as a solitary, spherical to shortly cylindrical stem and soon offsets freely from the base to build a low, crowded cushion of heads. Individual stems reach only a few centimetres across and are divided into many (often around a dozen or more) narrow ribs. Each rib is lined with prominent, pointed tubercles arranged in neat spiralling rows, giving the surface its distinctive knobbly, pineapple-like texture.
Despite the "soft-spined" appearance, the plant is not truly spiny: the tubercle tips bear only small, soft points rather than the hard spines of a cactus. Like all euphorbias it produces a milky white latex when cut. It is dioecious — individual plants are either male or female — and the tiny cyathia (the reduced euphorbia flowers) are yellowish-green and appear near the tops of the heads. To set viable seed you generally need both a male and a female plant flowering together.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Mpumalanga in north-eastern South Africa (the former eastern Transvaal), in the summer-rainfall region, where it grows in dry, open scrub and grassland in gritty, well-drained ground. In habitat the low clumps often sit partly among rocks and other low vegetation that give a little shade and shelter, and the plants endure long dry spells followed by seasonal rain.
Cultivation
Euphorbia suzannae is an easy and rewarding plant given the two things it insists on: sharp drainage and restraint with the watering can. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot only a little larger than the clump. Give it bright light — including some direct sun — to keep the heads tight and well-coloured; in too much shade the growth becomes soft and elongated.
Water thoroughly once the soil has dried right out during the warm growing season, then let it dry again before the next drink. Through the cool months keep the plant dry, or nearly so, and above roughly 10 °C, as cold combined with damp is the quickest way to lose it to rot. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
A word of care: the white latex is toxic and can irritate skin and, especially, the eyes, so wash your hands after handling or cutting the plant and keep the sap away from your face. See Pests and diseases for the usual mites and mealybugs.
Propagation
The clump offsets readily, so the simplest method is division: detach a rooted head or an offset, allow the cut latex to dry and the wound to callus for several days, then pot it into a dry, gritty mix and water only lightly until roots establish. See Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings.
Seed is also possible but, because the species is dioecious, you need a male and a female plant in flower at the same time to obtain it; hand-transferring pollen between them improves the set. Sow fresh seed on a warm, mineral surface as described in Propagation — seed.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or cold damp conditions in winter; heads soften and discolour from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the stems stretch and the tubercles flatten, spoiling the tidy clumped shape.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the tubercles and at the roots) and spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders.
See also
- Euphorbia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Pests and diseases