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Euphorbia geroldii
Euphorbia geroldii is a thornless, succulent shrub from northeastern Madagascar, grown as an ornamental and popular houseplant. It is among the easiest Euphorbias to grow, and cuttings root readily.
Euphorbia geroldii commonly called Gerold's Spurge or Thornless Crown of Thorns is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae.
A relatively fast growing species, it is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is especially popular as a thornless houseplant. Grown from cuttings, its care requirements are similar to those of other shrubby Euphorbia species from tropical regions such as Madagascar and central Africa, though it is among the easiest to grow. Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to it. Outdoors, the plant prefers semi-shade; indoors, it requires full to partial sun. Plants grown in shade should be gradually acclimated before being moved into full sunlight, as sudden exposure can cause severe scorching. This species is especially tolerant of coastal conditions and salt spray, making it an excellent choice for seaside plantings. A tall plant will need staking, otherwise it will be leggy. Pests such as mildew can occur in very humid conditions.
It is endemic to northeastern Madagascar, found through the encompassing coastal forest of Iharana, in the Ambilobe region. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests and in the sands of coastal forests. The species is threatened by habitat degradation, fire, and clearing for charcoal production, as well as collection for both national and international horticultural trade. It is highly vulnerable to any form of disturbance, including human-induced fires. It is threatened by habitat loss. The species is on the IUCN Red List and is considered critically endangered.
Marble Canyon spurge · Abd Al Kuri Euphorbia · Euphorbia abdita · Euphorbia abdulghafooriana · Abram's Spurge · Desert Candle · Euphorbia acalyphoides · Greek Spiny Spurge · Euphorbia actinoclada · Pointed Sandmat · Euphorbia adenopoda · Miniature Saguaro
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Euphorbia geroldii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
