Euphorbia submammillaris | Corn cob
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
It looks like a small corn cob that decided to grow in the middle of the African bush. Its green stems, perfectly aligned and covered in small geometric reliefs, form columns that multiply from the base to build a compact and surprisingly regular sculpture. When observed closely, each rib appears to be made of a succession of small interlocking pieces, as if the plant had been built with tiny blocks.
It is a shrubby, glabrous, and highly branched succulent that can reach approximately 15–30 cm in height and form dense clusters. The stems are erect, cylindrical, and fleshy, about 12–40 mm in diameter, with 7–10 very marked angles or ribs. The tubercles, arranged along the ribs, can form transverse or almost whorled bands. The leaves are tiny, narrowly subulate, about 3–6 mm, and fall off quickly. Between the tubercles, 4–20 mm spines remain, which are modified floral peduncles that persist after flowering. It produces white latex when injured.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is native to South Africa, with a distribution in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, from Albertinia to Grahamstown, at altitudes of approximately 20 to 305 m. It lives on stony plains and slopes, among shrubs, on alluvial deposits and shale soils, forming part of Fynbos and Cape thicket environments. It belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −4 ºC if kept completely dry, is well acclimatized, and the cold exposure is brief. In cultivation, the combination of low temperatures and humidity should be especially avoided.
☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it needs intense lighting, with an approximate goal of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. It tolerates direct sun after gradual acclimatization. High lighting promotes compact growth and maintains the intensity of the green color of the stems. In very bright conditions, it can acquire reddish tones in some areas.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest.
During the active period, abundant watering is recommended, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, it should be kept practically dry, especially when temperatures are low. Rapid drainage is essential to avoid problems with the roots.
🌸 Flowering
It produces small unisexual cyathia, located towards the ends of the stems on thin peduncles. The floral structures can have purple, yellowish-green, or yellowish tones, with five nectar glands. In its natural range, flowering is recorded mainly between May and October; in Madrid, it can be concentrated during the warm months, especially from late spring to summer. After flowering, some peduncles persist and harden, forming the plant's characteristic spines.
🌿 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 technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 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 specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, it is a living being! Each one of the plants from Desert CITY has unique characteristics.
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