Desert Rose (Euphorbia millis)

Family Euphorbiaceae

This species is a hybrid and comes from India. It grows to about 24” in height and is a popular plant in our gardens. Many insects such as Carpenter bees are attracted to the flowers.

 Euphorbiaceae is the name given to one of the largest families in the plant world, sometimes known as spurges. It includes around 300 genera and 7,500 species, and of these around 870 are regarded as succulent. The IES is mostly concerned with the succulent genera: Euphorbia, Monadenium, Synadenium, Elaeophorbia, Endadenium, Pedilanthus, Jatropha and Cnidoscolus.

 Many species have a milky latex which exudes copiously when cut, and is more or less caustic. This does not apply to the Jatrophas and Cnidoscolus which have a clear sap, but on the other hand some species in the latter genus have stinging hairs on the leaves and stem and need to be handled with care.


Some species are widely cultivated, such as Euphorbia millii, the crown of thorns or E. pulcherrima, the poinsettia. E. tirucalli has been grown as a crop and almeidina latex used as a rubber substitute, but this proved to be unstable. However, it is still used as an ingredient in antifouling for boats. Hydrocarbons (fuel) have also been extracted from the species and a few others, but up to now uneconomically. Many species are cultivated unintentionally as poisonous weeds like E. esula, and there are many of the prostrate ones better known under Chamaesyce. Hard candelilla wax, a useful ingredient of polishes and waxes is produced from an Mexican succulent shrub.