Euphorbia trigona f. cristata
€15,90
🌱 Morphology
It looks as if the characteristic African milk tree had stopped growing toward the sky to become a living sculpture. Its stems, instead of forming straight columns, widen and fold into wavy crests, creating sinuous profiles that may remind one of coral or a small mountain range of plants. Each specimen develops a different silhouette, which makes it particularly attractive as a collector's plant.
This is a crested form of Euphorbia trigona, an upright-growing succulent whose stems normally have three or four sides and small persistent structures along the ridges. In the cristata form, growth occurs in a fasciated manner, causing the stems to widen laterally and form wavy, irregular bands. It retains the latex characteristic of the Euphorbiaceae family.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Euphorbia trigona belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and is native to tropical Africa, from Gabon to Malawi, where it grows in seasonally dry tropical environments. The cristata form is a horticultural selection, not a distinct natural population.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 10a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −1 ºC, provided the specimen is completely dry, acclimated, and the cold exposure is brief. The crested form must be especially protected from frost and persistent humidity during cold spells.
☀️ Lighting
It requires plenty of light to maintain compact growth and good crest formation. During active growth, an accumulated photosynthetically active radiation of approximately 18–25 mol/m²/day (DLI PAR) is recommended. It tolerates direct sun if acclimated gradually.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During the growing season, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. In winter, with low temperatures and reduced light, it should be kept virtually dry.
🌸 Flowering
Flowering is rare in cultivation, especially in crested specimens. Euphorbia trigona may produce small greenish floral structures during the warmer months, although its main ornamental appeal lies in the architecture of its stems.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a specific fertilizer for succulents with a high content of 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 the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
Black gourmet pot, 9x9 cm
- Shipped today? Order within:
- Hassle-free returns
- Free Shipping on orders over €79.99
Expert advice with every purchase
Our team provides you with personalized advice on caring for your plants and growing media.
-
Secure and protected payment guaranteed.
