Crown of Thorns

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marylove Fort Lauderdale, FL May 05, 2009

I live in Florida and just planted 4 Crown of Thorns. Because I am a beginner I thought they looked very hearty so of course I couldn't kill them. I planted them 8" to 12" apart from each other. I then read that they can grow pretty big. Did I plant them too close together? I have 6 more to plant around the house and want to make sure I do the right thing. How big do they get? Totally a beginner with this stuff.

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Metrosideros Keaau, HI May 06, 2009

The natural form of Euphorbia milii, Crown of Thorns, gets to be about six ft. tall. The multi-colored cultivars stay about a foot tall in my garden.

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marylove Fort Lauderdale, FL May 07, 2009

Thanks for the info. Can I cut them down from time to time to keep them shorter so they don't block my other plants behind them?

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) May 07, 2009

Absolutely. And let the cuttings dry (callous over) and start new plants from them to give away, or give the cuttings to friends who can pot them up themselves.

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marylove Fort Lauderdale, FL May 07, 2009

Thanks. As a complete beginner this is a great site. I have had my home fo r13 years and haven't really gotten into gardening. I started in the back yard just in case i screw up! lol. My husband keeps it well manicured but we really needed color.

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marylove Fort Lauderdale, FL May 07, 2009

Important question I forgot to ask... how do i trim them down? I would love for them to be full. Do I just cut from the top?

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) May 08, 2009

Yes, use a very sharp knife and have wet paper towels to put on the wounds. They will bleed sap and it will run all down on the stems.
Most people react to the sap, usually an itch, so don't get it on your skin, esp. around your face! Prob. wear gloves because the "thorns" are sharp. To handle it, used newspaper folded over several times like a towel. Select your cuts carefully because you want the top to be more rounded than flat. The resulting shape will be more natural as new stems replace the ones you remove, and it will fill the plant out. Have newspaper to put the cuttings on while they bleed. Cut them up into pieces about 5-7 inches long. Let them callous for up to a month, then share with friends. You can send them through the mail in a box easily. Tell them to plant the cutting about 3 inches deep. Keep in the shade. Water thoroughly after potting, but don't water again until the soil feels dry when you poke your finger down in it. People will be thrilled when their new plant puts out shoots. Did I leave out anything?

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