Euphorbia ritchiei

Common Names

リチェイ, Armored Beauty, Pink Cyathias

Summary

Native to Kenya (Meru District SW of Isiolo) at about 1300 m on steep stony slopes with seasonal water, this Kenyan succulent forms large clumps via underground shoots and includes subspecies nyambensis, marsabitensis, and ritchiei. Stems are green, decumbent to erect, up to 60 cm long and 3 cm in diameter, with conical tubercles and leaves clustered at tips; leaves are puberulous and may shed with changes in light or during dry winter; pink cyathia occur in small clusters near stem tips.

Prefers mineral, well-drained soil with an airy medium containing non-organic materials such as clay, pumice, or lava grit and little peat or leaf-mould; repot every two years; watering sparingly March–September and avoid standing water; winter nearly dry and frost-sensitive, tolerating about 7°C; sun exposure is light shade but tolerates sun with gradual acclimation; propagation by seeds or cuttings; offsets should dry before planting; landscaping uses include ornamental stems, container planting, and interiorscape; hardy in USDA zones 10a–11b.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

16-24 inches

Spread

10-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 11a-11b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade, including light shade, with acclimation to sunny positions.

Soil Type

Well-drained gritty mineral soil or cactus/succulent mix with high mineral grit (pumice, lava grit, coarse sand) and little to no peat or leaf-mould; cannot tolerate waterlogging.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, gritty mineral soil or cactus/succulent mix (with perlite or pumice); use pots with drainage holes to avoid waterlogging

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division