Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Madagascar
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Euphorbia milii
Number of Varieties
20100
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Forests, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Red
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Obovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
stem tip cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Full-strength liquid fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Ants, Bees
Allergy
Rash
Eye irritation, Skin irritation, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Antibacterial, Cancer, Schistosomiasis, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Flowers, Latex
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
EUPHORBIA milii
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Crown-of-Thorns
In German
Shell Ginger
Dornenkrone
In French
Shell Ginger
Couronne d'épines
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Corona de espinas
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Crown - of- Αγκάθια
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Crown -de- espinhos
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Korona cierniowa
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Coronam de spinis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Euphorbiales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Alpinieae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
1501000
1
27800
👆🏻