Euphorbia geroldii (Gerold's spurge, "Togenashihanakirin")

Japanese name: トゲナシハナキリン
Scientific name: Euphorbia geroldii

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub reaching 2 m in height.
Milky white latex comes out when the stems or leaves are damaged.
The stems have no thorns.
The leaves are simple and alternate, elliptical, 8 cm long and 3 cm wide, with a glossy surface.
It flowers all year round as long as the temperature allows.
The flowers are borne in cup-shaped inflorescences about 3 cm across at the stem tips, and have no perianth.
A pair of bracts enclosing the flowers are colored bright red and stand out like petals.
The fruit is a spherical capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
For cuttings, wash off the milky white latex right away by rinsing the cut surface with water or soaking it in water, then let the cut surface dry before inserting.
The larger the cut surface, the harder it is to root.
It has weak cold tolerance, and keeping it at 10°C or above is safest for overwintering.
If it is kept dormant by withholding water completely, it can tolerate temperatures down to nearly 0°C.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
In poor light it may become leggy or the bracts may color poorly.
From spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; in winter keep it on the dry side.
It tolerates dryness well.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer once every 2 months, or liquid fertilizer once a month.
Using a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium improves flowering.
Because plants fall over when they grow tall, cut them back in summer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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