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Euphorbia loricata
Semi-shade is ideal for the plant, but it can tolerate a sunny location.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. Watering should be reduced in winter.
It can tolerate -1.1 °C in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
If grown in direct sun, the colour changes from light green to reddish. This is not suitable for a succulent, so I recommend placing the plant in a habitat with diffused light.
Euphorbia loricata, also known by the synonyms Euphorbia armata, Euphorbia eustacei, Euphorbia hystrix and Treisia hystrix, is a succulent succulent shrub. It is native to South Africa, where it is found on rocky sandstone slopes and plains from Vredendal to Clanwilliam and Laingsburg in the Western Cape province.
The leaves are narrow and lanceolate, clustered towards the tips of the branches. They fall off over time and commonly reach up to 7.5 cm long and 1 cm wide. Although the leaves do not dominate the plant, they add to its elegant appearance. The plant is mainly characterised by its cylindrical, tuberous branches, which are covered by numerous long, stout, spiny stems. These stems are often white in colour. When grown in full sun, the colour of the stems varies from light green to reddish. It branches from the base and grows up to 1 m tall. The fleshy branches can be up to 1,5 cm in diameter.
During the summer months, many solitary cyathia - false flowers - appear at the ends of the branches. The stems of the cyathia grow up to 5 cm long. The fruits are glabrous to hairy capsules 0.8 cm in diameter.
Caring for the plant is very easy. Unlike most succulents, this plant does not tolerate prolonged periods of drought. It likes to be fertilised, ideally during the growing season. Keep in mind that the resin contains latex, which is irritating on contact with the skin. If latex comes into contact with the skin, wash the area with water. Euphorbia loricata is an ideal choice for growers looking for an unpretentious yet formidable shrubby succulent plant. Its majestic appearance and hardiness make it an interior and exterior ornament.