Euphorbia dendroides
Tree Spurge
| Family |
| Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus |
| Euphorbia |
| Species |
| dendroides |
| Category |
| Tropicals |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 5 - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 41 - 50 |
| Height |
| 2 m |
| Spread |
| 2 m |
| General Description |
| Hemispherical semi-succulent shrub that can easily be recognized from long distance by its reddish branches. |
| Cultivation |
| Grows best in full sun to partial shade with deep sandy soil. Water moderately from autumn to spring, and during the summer diminish waterings to once a month. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Habitat |
| Grows in exposed, open terrain, on rocky (mostly calcareous) ground, 0 - 600 meters above sea level, but is found occasionally up to 900 meters. |
| Leaf Description |
| Alternate, clustered at end of branches but somewhat spaced out. Oblong-lanceolate, entire, attenuate at the base, and somewhat mucronate at the tip, rounded or sub-truncate, up to 6.5 cm long and 8 mm wide, sessile, glabrous and with single vein, eventually deciduous when in drought. |
| Flower Description |
| Inflorescences are terminal, umbellate, with 5-8 bifurcate, rays to 5 cm long. Cyathia is sub-sessile, egg-shaped, and 5 mm in size. Each cyathium consists of one female flower, with a three-lobed ovary, and up to six male flowers, surrounded by round glands. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruit is deeply three-lobed, 5 - 6 cm in width, 7 mm in length, dehiscent, and contains 3 seeds. Seeds are ovoid, laterally compressed, grow to 3 mm, and carry a rounded caruncle. |
| Colour Description |
| Fruit is grey-green, with the seeds within being opaque brown or greyish black. Cyathia is yellowish green. Leaves are light green. Bark ranges from a deep red to reddish brown. |
| Texture Description |
| Fruit and seeds are smooth. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |