Synonyms:

No synonyms are recorded for this species name.

Habitat:

Euphorbia fruticosa inermis is native to an area between South-Western Saudi Arabia and Northern Yemen. Its habitat are the crevices of rocks in steep slopes of open-deciduous shrublands, where it tends to form abundant colonies.

Description:

Euphorbia fruticosa inermis is a succulent plant of the family of Euphorbiacae. It is actually an Euphorbia fruticosa, but more profusely branched, and with less thick stems than the regular fruticosa form. Like many Euphorbias, it definitely looks like a cacti. It has in fact the typical cacti-shaped stem, ribbed and oblong-elliptical in shape. As we already explained in other botanical notes about Euphorbias, this is the typical example of what’s called a “convergent evolution”: plants very distant geographic areas develop a similar aspect and similar mechanisms to cope with similar climate conditions: in this case, dry, warm habitats. In Euphorbia fruticosa, the ribs are very pronounced and 10 to 13 in number, and their crest is equipped with vertical white tubercles that look like the areola of cacti (areola are cacti’s buds). The form “inermis” shares with the regular “E. fruticosa” the deeply pronounced ribs, but has fewer and less stiff thorns. Also, the stem surface is more smooth and coloured in a bluish-green tinge, which in the regular “fruticosa” form is replaced by a bright green. Flowers, in this species, are the typical cyathia of Euphorbias. A cyathium (cyathia in the plural form) is one of the specialised false flowers forming the inflorescence of plants in the genus Euphorbia. In E. fruticosa inermis they grow solitary, lined up on the stems between a group of spines and another, usually concentrate towards the top of the stems, on the crests of the ribs. They are very numerous in both the regular Euphorbia fruticosa form and the fruticosa inermis variant. Cyathia are enveloped by special structures that look like the petals of regular flowers, called cyathophylls, that, in this species, are 5 and regularly rounded, as well as bright yellow. They appear on the plant in a period beween Autumn and early Spring.

Cultivation:

If you’re thinking about getting yourself a Euphorbia fruticosa inermis, you’re in luck ’cause they’re super tough plants and easy to grow. Here’s some tips to keep it looking fly:

Put it in a spot that gets some good light, but avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Indirect or filtered light is the way to go.
Keep it at temperatures above 5-8ºC, since it’s a subtropical species and can handle the cold a bit better. Make sure the soil stays completely dry during the winter to avoid rotting.
Water it well but not too often in spring and summer during the growing season, and wait for the soil to dry out completely before watering again. In the winter and autumn, lay off the watering since Euphorbia fruticosa inermis is a winter-dormant species and doesn’t need irrigation during that time.
Choose a well-drained soil, a mix for succulents will do the trick. For E. fruticosa inermis, it’s better to use a mineral substrate made of materials like clay, pumice, or lava grit.
Fertilize it once a year with a product that’s high in phosphorus and potassium and low in nitrogen. Dilute the product to half the recommended dose on the label.
Repot it when it outgrows its current pot. Choose pots that are only slightly larger than the diameter of the plant, like 1 or 2 centimeters wider. E. fruticosa inermis is moderately fast-growing, so repotting once a year should be fine.

Propagation:

If you’re thinking about propagating your Euphorbia fruticosa inermis, you can do it by seed or cuttings. If you’re going the cutting route, you’ll need to use woody branches. Before planting them, give them a rinse in warm water to get rid of the latex, let them dry out for a couple of days, and then plant them in a light, sandy soil that needs to stay moist until they’ve put down roots. It’ll take around a month for that to happen. We recommend using a rooting hormone to give them a little boost. Using seeds is less common since it’s a monoecious species and it can be tough to get your hands on them, and it can be difficult to get them to germinate.

Curiosity:

The name “Euphorbia” comes from the Greek word “Euphorbus”, which was the name of the Greek physician of King Juba II of Numidia (52-50 BC – 23 AD). Juba II named this genus in honor of his physician.
The species name “inermis” means unarmed, referring to the lack of spines on the stems of this plant.
The plant contains a milky sap that can cause skin irritation and is toxic if ingested, so it should be handled with care.
It is known to have medicinal properties and have been used to treat various ailments such as inflammation and skin problems.
It is also drought tolerant and can grow in poor soil, making it a great option for xeriscaping.
It is also a popular bonsai plant, and is grown in many parts of the world for ornamental purposes.

Official Web Site:
www.giromagi.com

Italian Blog:
www.giromagicactus.com

Tips:
Read our advice