August 13th 2026
Weather: 80F ☁️
Euphorbia neorubella Bruyns (Monadenium rubellum (P.R.O.Bally) S.Carter)
A few months ago I decided to trim back and raise the caudex of my Euphorbia neorubella, a small shrubby Madagascan species with red-underleaves. This plant has always flowered proflifically and readiliy self-pollinates. Since trimming, it's pushes a lot of new growth, nearly all the growth at the moment is completely new. I decided to take the opportunity to stage it as well in a Mark Mauradian pot. I did notice a small amount of cochineal mealybug that I physically removed, sprayed with spinosad, and then treated with some Bonide systemic granules. It's doing well now. I sowed a batch of seeds this year as well which are beginning to push cute little shoots themselves.
Euphorbia forolensis L.E. Newton
Last year I paid a visit to a renowned Euphorbia grower and friend of mine, Peter Walkoviak. We trade plants here and there, and I noticed a rooted cutting of Euphorbia forolensis he had to the side that had previously rotted off of the parent plant. Peter was kind as always and gifted it to me. If I recall correctly, the plant's origin was from the Hutington collection, ISI 2009-19, HBG 98582. From the Huntington's description, E forolensis grows in a "very limited area on Forole Mountain in the Eastern Province of Kenya". E. forolensis grows as a barely-spined shrub with bright yellow cyathia adorned with red seed pods when pollinated. This species has proven self-fertile for me.
Euphorbia guillaminiana Boiteau
I've had a small storied past with E. guillaminiana, a small Madagascan shrub. In 2024 I acquired some seed which completely failed to germinate. I don't want to blame the seed itself, but instead how I sowed them. My theory is the lack of germination due to poor light, heat, and not enough water. Madagascan seedlings seem to be quite water hungry, though to be honest all Euphorbia seedlings seem to share this quality as far as I can tell.
In 2025 I acquired a small set of seed which I was much more successful with, garnering around eight seedlings, though I lost two of them. They're pushing new growth at the moment, and hopefully will begin to branch shortly. I also sowed a good amount of seed this year in early May which have germinated quite nicely and are growing quickly.
Euphorbia awashensis M.G. Gilbert
Several years ago, I acquired a nice sized specimen of Euphorbia awashensis, a spiny, shrubby, grasslands species from Ethipoia within Euphorbia section Triacanthium. A very interesting traight of E. awashensis is that it is noted to have a retracted main stem sitting below the soil level, an adaptation to aid in being able to regrow shoots after wildfires decimate it. I'll have to revisit this topic in a future post with photos highlighting the retracted main stem. I sowed quite a large amount of seed last year which are very much outgrowing their propagation tray and are in dire need of being potted up.
