Euphorbia ritchiei subsp. nyambensis | ex. Monadenium ritchiei
€26,50
🌱 Morphology
A small colony of knobby green stems that seems to have decided to grow into a tiny sculpture. Numerous short, upright, and tightly packed shoots multiply from a thick fleshy root, each covered by a succession of large tubercles that give it an almost mineral appearance. When it blooms, the pale green of the stems contrasts with intense reddish-pink cyathia that appear at the tips.
It is a perennial succulent with a cespitose growth habit, featuring a thick fleshy root system capable of forming large clusters over time. The stems are short, erect, pale green, very knobby, and reach up to about 15 cm in height and 3 cm in diameter. The prominent, conical tubercles are arranged in compact spirals and bear the leaves and floral structures. The leaves are glabrous, light green, and can reach about 4 cm in length. Unlike other Euphorbias with a similar appearance, the stems of this subspecies are especially short and compact. It may lose its leaves in response to sudden temperature changes.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is an accepted subspecies of Euphorbia ritchiei, belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Kenya, specifically the Meru area in the northeastern end of the Nyambeni Mountains, where it was collected at Lagadema Hill, at an altitude of around 1,150 m. It grows on rocky slopes within grasslands, in well-draining soils, with water availability during the summer and a marked winter drought.
The name Monadenium ritchiei subsp. nyambense S.Carter corresponds to the basionym and still appears frequently in specialized collections; the currently accepted combination is Euphorbia ritchiei subsp. nyambensis.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 11a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of up to 4 ºC in dry conditions. Available cultivation references consider it frost-sensitive and recommend keeping it protected from temperatures near 0 ºC, especially if there is moisture in the substrate.
☀️ Lighting
During active growth, an illumination of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR is recommended. It tolerates direct sun if acclimated progressively, although it can also be grown with slight protection from the hours of highest intensity. A sudden change from shade to sun can cause burns.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During the active growth period, it is recommended to water moderately, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, it should be kept almost completely dry. In its habitat, it receives water during the summer and goes through a dry period in winter; excess moisture around the roots promotes rot.
🌸 Flowering
It produces small cyathia of approximately 6 mm, gathered at the tips of the stems. In this subspecies, they are particularly notable for their intense pink to reddish coloration, both in the cyathium and the surrounding structure. Flowering is concentrated towards the end of summer and during autumn depending on cultivation conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a specific fertilizer for succulents with high content in assimilable calcium, such as Desert CHOICE® Succulents, is recommended, applied once a month when watering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated by mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
9x9 cm gourmet black pot
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