To date, well over 2,000 plant species have been discovered worldwide that belong to the huge genus of euphorbia. In German-speaking countries, many common names for the so-called "spurge" refer to the milky plant sap, which in most cases is not exactly non-toxic.

The poinsettia is also a spurge family

Basic characteristics of milkweed species

This genus of plants is anything but uniform, because euphorbias are often:

  • herbaceous growing or woody to shrubs and trees
  • annual or perennial
  • have alternate, opposite or arranged in whorls of leaves
  • are thorny or unarmed

Around half of all euphorbia species get by with very little rainfall or irrigation, which is referred to as "xerophytic" in technical jargon. Plant species of the genus Euphorbia are often succulent and, like the pencil bush, which is easy to propagate, have thick fleshy branches on which small-format leaves can only be discovered in the new growth. All spurge species require a certain degree of care when caring for them, since the poisonous milky sap that irritates the skin when touched immediately escapes when pruned.

Prominent representatives among indoor plants

Since most Euphorbia species come from tropical or subtropical regions, they are usually only cultivated as a houseplant or partially as a container plant with the summer outdoor season. Particularly prominent representatives of the genus are, for example:

  • the triangular spurge (Euphorbia trigona)
  • the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
  • Christ's thorn (Euphorbia milii)
  • the spit palm (Euphorbia leuconeura)
  • the pencil bush (Euphorbia tirucalli)

Care instructions for common species of Euphorbia

Most euphorbias prefer a bright, if not full, sun. Since these are mostly succulent plants, care should be taken to ensure that water is dosed very carefully. During the winter months, the respective location should be frost-free, but the temperature should be a bit cooler. In addition, the euphorbias are kept even drier than usual during this resting phase.

tips

The toxic effects of the euphorbia's milky latex sap should not be underestimated. With all species of spurge, cutting measures should therefore always be carried out with protective gloves and with particular caution. Since harmful effects are even possible through the air we breathe, larger specimens should only be cut in the greenhouse if there is adequate ventilation.

Category:

Indoor plants