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Star euphorbia

Euphorbia stellata

Also called Milkthorn

Star euphorbia
Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0

Star euphorbia is a small, low-growing South African succulent with a swollen underground tuber and star-shaped green stems. It needs bright light, very sharp drainage and a dry rest period.

Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Grows as
Shrub, Succulent, Bulb
Light
Full sun, Bright indirect
Water
Water sparingly during the growing season and keep it nearly dry while dormant.
Soil
Very fast-draining gritty cactus or succulent mix.
Temperature
15–30 °C; protect below 5 °C
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic: All parts contain milky latex that irritates skin and eyes and is harmful if swallowed.
Native range
SC. & S. Cape Prov.
Climate
desert or dry shrubland

About

Euphorbia stellata is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) endemic to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

The specific epithet stellata refers to the star-shaped arrangement of the stems around the caudex.

Other Euphorbia plants

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 stellata 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.

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