Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia milii
Varieties We Bring In
Last received Aug 27, 2026.
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
About Crown of Thorns
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a succulent shrub native to Madagascar, bearing thick, thorny stems and small, rounded leaves alongside tiny flowers surrounded by showy bracts in red, pink, yellow, orange, or white. It blooms nearly year-round in warm climates and tolerates drought, heat, and neglect with remarkable ease. A classic South Florida landscape and container plant valued for its long bloom season and low maintenance. Starting at $6.95.
Plant details
- Bloom Season
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
- Flower Color
- White, Yellow, Red, Pink
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- Sandy, Well-drained
Best planting months
Seasonal care
Bloom season. Good planting window.
Bloom season. Handles summer heat well once established. Can be planted with extra attention to watering.
Bloom season. Ideal planting window.
Bloom season. Retains foliage through winter. Can be planted in mild winter periods.
Care essentials
Crown of Thorns demands full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun daily — to bloom reliably year-round. In NE Florida, place it in the sunniest spot in the landscape or on a south-facing patio; poor flowering is almost always caused by insufficient light.
Crown of Thorns is extremely drought tolerant; water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. In NE Florida, established plants in the ground rarely need supplemental irrigation except during extended droughts. Overwatering is the most common cause of decline — never let roots sit in wet soil.
Plant in very well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil; heavy clay or consistently moist soil will cause root rot. Fertilize once or twice a year with a balanced slow-release fertilizer; minimal nutrition is needed. Crown of Thorns is reliably hardy outdoors in zone 9b, though rare hard freezes may cause tip damage — plants recover quickly.
Similar needs
Bulbine Lily
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, salt tolerance, and zone 9a hardiness.
Baby Sun Rose
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, salt tolerance, and zone 9a hardiness.
Beautyberry
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, salt tolerance, and zone 9a hardiness.
Bottlebrush
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, salt tolerance, and zone 9a hardiness.
Chaste Tree
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, salt tolerance, and zone 9a hardiness.
Coastalplain Palafox
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, salt tolerance, and zone 9a hardiness.
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Common questions
Is Crown of Thorns a good plant for St. Augustine?
Crown of Thorns is a succulent for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, with medium salt tolerance, reaching 2-5 feet × 3-5 feet.
Care information verified from
Last reviewed February 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.