Euphorbia lugardiae

Euphorbia lugardiae is a shrub in the spurge family. It is evergreen and succulent, with thick parts that store water. Its older name is Monadenium lugardiae. It grows wild in parts of southern Africa. Its range includes Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa. It grows among rocks on granite outcrops and sandy ground. It also grows in grassland with trees and open Brachystegia woods. Some groups grow in shade on termite mounds.

The plant branches at its base and forms upright stems. Some stems lean or trail a little along the ground. Garden height is about 1.6–2 feet [0.5–0.6 metres]. The round stems reach about 0.1 feet [0.03 metres] across. The plant keeps its leaves when conditions suit it. Too little water in cold weather can cause leaf loss. Chicago Botanic Garden calls it green desert rose. Its archived page lists white blooms from March to April. It says the plant lives for years and grows upright.

Grow this plant in full sun or light shade. Use a potting mix that lets excess water drain away. Useful Tropical Plants suggests two parts sand in this mix. Add one part loam and one part peat moss. Let the mix dry fully each time before watering again. In cold weather, give just enough water to stop leaves shrivelling. The source says to feed once in the growing season. Too much water and plant feed can cause root rot. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 7–10. That advice comes from an archived page no longer maintained.

Growers use this plant in pots for its looks. Chicago Botanic Garden also lists beds and borders as uses. It lists planting it on its own for display, too. Its page reports that butterflies visit and the plant resists deer. Growers can raise new plants from pieces of stem. Useful Tropical Plants says these cuttings root in six to eight weeks. It says to let cut ends form calluses before planting. Seeds offer one more way to raise new plants.

There is no known food use for this plant. Its latex, or milky sap, poses grave risks. Swallowing it can cause vomiting and severe bowel harm. Reports also note liver damage and, in some cases, death. Latex on skin can cause dermatitis, a skin rash. Eating the root can burn the mouth and throat. It can also cause hallucinations and delirium. People use the plant in folk medicine. These uses do not prove it is safe. Lab tests have also found that its latex can kill insects.