Euphorbia murielii
Euphorbia murielii · Euphorbiaceae
📷 The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · CC BY 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around euphorbia murielii and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and thick
- Flowering
- Spring-summer, small yellow flowers in cyathia
- Mature size
- 20 to 40 cm tall, compact and branching habit
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender, min. 5-8 °C, grow indoors or in a conservatory
- Origin
- South Africa
- Soil type
- Very well-draining, cactus and succulent compost
Expert tips
The key tip
Water very sparingly in winter (once a month is enough), and wait for the substrate to dry completely between waterings during the growing season. The trap is thinking it's thirsty because it's dropping leaves: it's usually the opposite. Use a pot with drainage holes and very well-draining mix (cactus soil or add 40% perlite).
The common mistake
Overwatering kills this plant more often than anything else. Gardeners treat it like a regular houseplant and water regularly, which quickly rots the fleshy roots.
The pro's trick
In winter, stop watering for 4 to 6 weeks if temperatures drop below 15°C: this is its natural dormancy period, and the lack of water at this time strengthens its hardiness and spring flowering.
Seasonal watch
In spring, watch for mealybugs appearing in the leaf axils of fleshy leaves (the damp spot they love). Treat immediately with alcohol-soaked cotton before they colonize the base: they settle easily and spread quickly on fleshy euphorbias.
Care
Watering
Let the substrate dry out completely between waterings. In winter, space waterings further apart and reduce them to almost nothing. This succulent dreads excess moisture, which is the main risk of root rot.
Light
Place in very bright light, ideally near a sunny window. Indoors, 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day will ensure a compact habit and optimal colouration. In shade, the plant will become leggy.
Soil and potting
Use a very well-draining mixture: succulent compost enriched with perlite or coarse sand. A pot with drainage holes is essential. Repot every 2-3 years in spring, if necessary.
Fertiliser
Apply diluted succulent plant fertiliser once a month during the growing season (April to September). Reduce or stop in autumn-winter. Excess fertiliser promotes soft growth.
Pruning and pinching
Pinch young stems in spring to encourage branching and obtain a bushier habit. Remove dead or diseased branches. Proper pruning is not necessary.
Pests and diseases
Watch out for spider mites in dry air and mealybugs. If attacked, isolate the plant and treat using mechanical or biological methods. Root rot occurs if you overwater or lack drainage.
Did you know?
Euphorbia murielii owes its scientific name to Muriel, a South African botanist or historical figure. Like all Euphorbia, this succulent produces a milky sap that is slightly toxic and irritating: handle with care and avoid contact with eyes and open wounds. In South Africa, many succulent Euphorbia species are indicators of arid zones and fascinated European botanical explorers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wood spurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
- Caper spurgeEuphorbia lathyris
- Albanian spurgeEuphorbia characias
- Spiny spurgeEuphorbia spinosa
- Garden crotonCodiaeum variegatum
- Griffith's spurgeEuphorbia griffithii
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.