Sausage Spurge

Location

Cactus & Succulent Garden

  • Common Name: Sausage Spurge
  • Scientific Name: Monadenium guentheri
  • Family Name: Euphorbiaceae
  • Origin: Southeast Kenya
  • Height: 1 to 2 ft
  • Width: 2 to 3 ft
  • Growth: Moderate
  • Zone: USDA Zones 10B through 12
  • Light needs: Full sun to part shade
  • Salt tolerance: Low
  • Soil/pH/Texture: Requires very well-drained soil – sandy soils or a succulent potting mix are preferred. Soil pH should be acidic to neutral (5.0-7.0)
  • Moisture: No supplemental watering needed once established. Sensitive to flooding and overwatering,
  • Drought tolerance: High
  • Pests/Diseases: Root rot from overwatering.
  • Growing conditions: Grow this succulent in a warm, dry, elevated area free from flooding. Full sun is preferred for optimal growth. It can also be grown indoors with a succulent potting mix. Good drainage is essential, especially during cold months when the plant is particularly susceptible to wetness.
  • Characteristics: The unbranching stems of this plant are thick and cylindrical, with spine-tipped tubercles and succulent elliptical or spatulate leaves. Leaves are deciduous and leave behind small gray scars when they fall off. Small purple and red flowers emerge at the tops of the stems. The seed pods are rarely seen in cultivation,
  • Propagation: By cuttings or division.
  • Designer considerations: An excellent potted succulent for both indoor and outdoor spaces, especially when paired with other succulents such as small agaves, aloe, and snake plants.
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