Euphorbia submammillaris - Spurge

Euphorbia submammillaris is a cactus with a very unusual texture and shape. It is a rare and original succulent with a compact tuft of countless short green-grey stems shaped like corn cobs, crowned with tiny lanceolate leaves. Its cushion remains low but densifies by regularly extending with the emission of new shoots. Its low hardiness and dwarf habit make it more suitable for pot cultivation, where it can be combined with other succulents with varied shapes and colors to create playful miniature compositions. This perennial tolerates drought and hot climates remarkably well, but is a bit less tolerant of scorching exposures in the south of Europe.

Euphorbia submammillaris belongs to the vast family of Euphorbiaceae. It is a cultivar of unknown origin, but its parents are believed to come from the Cape region of South Africa. It is a succulent plant that withstands drought well and thrives in a well-drained soil in full light, with some watering in summer. In winter, bring it indoors to protect it from frost.

Euphorbia submammillaris is a rhizomatous succulent plant that develops from a creeping stump. It forms small colonies of shoots about 15 cm (6in) tall and 30 cm (12in) wide. The plant has a compact cushion habit with short green-grey stems. The stems are in the form of short, narrow columns less than 1 cm (0in) in diameter, sometimes covered with a grey bloom, and divided into shallow ribs separated by deep furrows, with tiny bright green leaves. The stems and leaves contain a milky juice that is sticky and toxic.