€7,95

🌱 Morphology
It looks like a small forest of copper branches straight out of a desert model: fine, twisted, blue-green stems that multiply from the base and are traversed by small, intense copper-colored thorns. When viewed up close, the contrast between the blue-green of the stems and the rusty red of the thorns looks almost hand-painted by nature.

It is a shrubby, highly branched succulent that can reach about 30 cm in height. It develops a thickened, partially underground base from which numerous cylindrical or slightly angular stems emerge, about 5–7.5 mm in diameter and up to 15 cm long, which can display a characteristic helical twist. The thorns are born in pairs on small copper or reddish shields; the two main ones can reach about 2 cm in length. The combination of grayish-blue or copper-green stems and reddish thorns is one of its main ornamental attractions.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is native to northern South Africa, mainly Limpopo, and also reaches nearby areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It lives in scrub and dry forest environments, especially among rock crevices and stony terrain, at an altitude of approximately 300 to 900 m. It belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. In the assessment of South African flora, it is classified as Least Concern (LC).

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 10a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −1 ºC if it remains completely dry, is well-acclimated, and the exposure is brief. Although there are references to specimens that withstand light frosts, the International Euphorbia Society notes that South African Euphorbias can tolerate low temperatures when kept dry; in cultivation, it is safer to protect it from frost.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it needs very intense lighting, with an approximate goal of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. It tolerates direct sun after progressive acclimation. High lighting helps keep the stems compact and enhances the contrast between the blue-green of the stems and the copper tone of the spines. The International Euphorbia Society points out that high light levels are important to preserve the compact habit, although some plants may need some protection from extreme sun.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy.
During the active period, abundant watering is recommended, letting the substrate dry completely before watering again. In winter, it must be kept practically dry, especially when temperatures are low. Although it comes from a region where both summer and winter rainfall can occur, excess moisture combined with cold significantly increases the risk of rot.

🌸 Flowering
The small floral structures, called cyathia, are bright yellow and appear between the spines on the stems. Although each measures just a few millimeters, when many appear along the branches, they produce small golden dots that contrast with the blue-green and copper of the plant. Flowering is concentrated mainly between late winter and spring, although it may vary depending on cultivation conditions.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a specific fertilizer for succulents is recommended, with a high content of assimilable calcium, such as Desert CHOICE® Succulents, applied once a month when watering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.

 📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm

L->16cm x 16 cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The plant measurements are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, after all, it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.

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