Euphorbia ritchiei

Euphorbia ritchiei, Ritchie's spurge, is a charming succulent spurge sought after for its architectural appeal and modest growth. In a bright interior, it blends into a minimalist decor with raw materials, on a console, a bookshelf, or near a large window. It is an original plant that is easy to maintain in our homes.

Botanically, Euphorbia ritchiei belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is also known under the botanical synonym Monadenium ritchiei. A species native to Kenya, it lives in dry, rather desert-like environments or in arid scrubland. The plant forms a thick fleshy taproot or caudex that serves as a reserve, then thick erect or trailing stems which can reach 40 cm in length with good cultivation. Their surface is marked with tubercles arranged in a spiral, and small, rounded to obovate leaves that appear mainly on young shoots before falling quickly. The flowering is typical of spurges in the form of small cyathia, followed by small capsules. In a pot, this spurge reaches 25 to 35 cm in height with a spread of 20 to 30 cm. Its growth is slow.
Like many spurges, the plant exudes a white, irritating and toxic latex: handle it with care, especially when pruning or propagating by cuttings.

This succulent plant likes very bright light (gentle sun possible), a rather dry atmosphere, around 30 to 50% humidity, and a temperature between 18 and 28 °C; it will suffer below 10-12 °C. Fairly easy to grow, it is mainly susceptible to overwatering and cold draughts; a very bright living room or a temperate conservatory suits it particularly well.

To showcase it, choose a plain, rather low pot and play with the contrast of materials: matte ceramic, stone, patinated metal. Euphorbia ritchiei naturally pairs with indoor plants that need lots of light. For example, choose Portulacaria afra ‘Macrophylla’, with its round and flexible foliage, Euphorbia lactea ‘Cristata’ for its crested silhouette, Euphorbia trigona f. rubra for its colourful height, or even Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’, with its large velvety leaves. The whole creates a voluminous scene that will be easy to live with on a daily basis.