Euphorbia Species, Sweet Noor, Sweet Noorsdoring

Per Jan Emming owner of the Destination:Forever Ranch and Gardens, a 40 acre desert botanical garden and sustainable living homestead in ...Read Morethe Arizona desert with a nursery:

The Succulent Karoo is a region of dense shrubby vegetation similar to chaparral or fynbos, but is significantly different in that it has a large proportion of succulent species rather than fire-prone woody species found in the other habitat types. These mountains west of Calitzdorp, South Africa are carved by the Huisrivier Canyon and the slopes are covered in succulent scrub such as these elephant's food (Portulacaria afra) punctuated by tall columns of Euphorbia coerulescens. Many smaller succulent plants were found in clearings and in the underbrush.

I've had for many years in light shade. And its grown healthy...but slooow. Next year,I should just move it to more sun. But,otherwise li...Read Moreke I said,done well,nice color. It was from a couple of cuttings given to me. One cutting did rot out in a rainy year soon after planting. This second one lasted and by now I'm sure has a rot- proof root system. Water drains because of the plants self made ecosystem. I've seen that on many plants.

The Sweet Noors occurs in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa and is so widespread in the area around the town of Janssenville that t...Read Morehe vegetation is named Noorsveld after it. Stands can be very dense. Livestock farmers use the Sweet Noors as fodder by lopping off the tops of plants and shredding them to dry out a little - they are then fed to the livestock, especially in times of drought. The plants recover well - ready to be "pruned" again in a year or three. Sheep can for instance survive on the diet exclusively for 4 to 6 months without adverse effects - amazing taking into account this is a latex producing Euphorbia in the same genus as many poisonous and caustic species.

Great looking Euphorbia in that South African suckering/branching/spiny/columnar class, only this one has large, gnarly spines and a pret...Read Morety irregulary shape. Surprisingly most Euphorbias thrive in my clay soil, but not this one. It rots very easily. It's common name is Sweet Noor.

Have had a lot of luck with this plant in more well draining soils and turns to be a pretty fast and easy grower here in southern California.. nearly every botanical garden has a big pathch of it here or there.