Euphordia Mili (red) in 8″ Pot

A woody, semi-succulent shrub with thick, grayish, multi-branched stems densely covered in sharp, blackish spines up to 1–2 cm long. Leaves are bright green, leathery, obovate to oblanceolate (1.5–5 cm long), clustered mostly near stem tips; they may drop in cool/dry periods. The showy “flowers” are actually pairs of petal-like bracts (cyathophylls) surrounding tiny yellow true flowers; in red forms (e.g., ‘Cherokee’, ‘Red Hot’, ‘New Red’) bracts are vivid red, 8–12 mm broad, and can appear year-round (heaviest in warm months). Size: 0.6–1.8 m (2–6 ft) tall and 0.5–1 m (1.5–3 ft) wide outdoors; indoors usually 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 ft). Milky latex sap is irritant and toxic if ingested.

Quick care: full sun (≥6 hrs) for best bloom—bright indirect light indoors, preferably a sunny south/west window; shade reduces flowering. Water sparingly: let the top 2–5 cm (1–2 in) of soil dry out, then water thoroughly; keep drier in winter. Use a gritty, fast-draining cactus/succulent mix (e.g., loam + sand/grit). Temps 18–27 °C (65–80 °F); keep above 13 °C (55 °F) in winter; tolerates heat to ∼32 °C (90 °F). Average humidity is fine; good air circulation helps. Feed every 2–4 weeks spring–fall with a balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer at half strength. Prune to shape after flowering (wear gloves; sap irritates skin/eyes). Propagate by 7–10 cm tip cuttings—stop sap with warm water, let dry 1–2 days, then root in barely moist mix. Toxic to pets/kids.