Royle’s Spurge (Euphorbia royleana) – Succulent plants

Royle’s Spurge (Euphorbia royleana) is an attractive, deciduous, cactus-like, shrub or small upright trees up to 2-5 m high, which is armed with short prickles along its stems. It has a stout trunk and is glabrous except for the flowers (cyathia). The cyathia are small greenish-yellow, 3-4 appear in almost stalkless clusters in leaf axils. It has succulent segmented branches in whorls, which are green, 4-7 cm thick, with branching from the upper parts. The stems have 5-7 ribs, angles more or less undulate winged with rounded teeth/tubercles. It has stout taproots. The stems become leafless during hot and cold seasons and the leaves are alternate, apically clustered. They are produced in the moist season and soon fall. They are usually not seen when in flower. The leaf blade is fleshy oblanceolate, spathulate, or spoon-shaped 5-15 long, 1–4 cm wide and slightly succulent. The base is attenuate, the margin entire, and the apex obtuse. The veins are inconspicuous. The petiole is absent. The flowering and fruiting is in spring to early summer (March–July) and seeding is in June–October. It is used as a hedging plant in northern India and has medicinal uses.

Benefits of Euphorbia royleana:

• It is a medicinal shrub used in Nepal locally known as siyuri or siudi. Its latex has purported molluscicidal properties.
• Several researchers have noted that Euphorbia royleana has been observed growing near rock face collection sites of the Ayurvedic resin shilajit in the Himalayas. The plant is the likely origin of shilajit as its gum has a similar composition to the resin.

Scientific Classification:

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Euphorbioideae
Tribe: Euphorbieae
Subtribe: Euphorbiinae
Genus: Euphorbia

Scientific Name: Euphorbia royleana Boiss.
Synonyms: Euphorbia pentagona
Common Names: Sullu Spurge, Royle’s Spurge

How to grow and maintain Royle’s Spurge (Euphorbia royleana):

Light:
It prefers full to partial sunlight. Provides good sunlight at least 3-5 hours of the day, and turn it regularly so that your plant doesn’t begin to grow lopsided.

Soil:
It grows well in well-draining, gritty soil or cactus potting mix. They are not particular about soil pH, but they cannot tolerate wet soil.

Water:
You can allow the soil to dry out between each watering. Before watering the plant check underneath the pot through the drainage holes to see if the roots are dry. If so then add some water. Do not water too often to prevent overwatering, that can potentially kill it off.

Temperature:
It prefers an optimal temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit – 85 degrees Fahrenheit / 16 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer during its growing season in the spring and summer. Avoid fertilizing your plant during the fall and winter months.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by cuttings. Take cutting in spring, which needs to be dried out for a couple of weeks in shade before potting. This can be tricky, because of the exuding sap. Rooting hormone is recommended with Euphorbias. Also can be propagated from seed, but they can be difficult to germinate.

Pests and Diseases:
Euphorbia may be susceptible to mealy bugs, scale insects, occasionally spider mites.