Medusa's Head (Euphorbia flanaganii) in the Euphorbias Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Plant Height:	8 inches
Plant Spread:	12 inches or more
Leaves:	Other: Very small and short-lived
Fruit:	Pops open explosively when ripe
Fruiting Time:	Year Round
Flowers:	Showy Other: In the genus Euphorbia, the flowers are reduced in size and aggregated into a cluster of flowers called a cyathium (plural cyathia). This feature is present in every species of the genus Euphorbia but nowhere else in the plant kingdom.
Flower Color:	Yellow
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Year Round
Suitable Locations:	Xeriscapic
Dynamic Accumulator:	B (Boron)
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant Squirrels Drought tolerant
Toxicity:	Other: All parts of Euphorbias can be toxic. Handle with care.
Propagation: Seeds:	Self fertile Can handle transplanting
Propagation: Other methods:	Offsets
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots

Common names

Medusa's Head
Euphorbia

Photo Gallery

Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-06-28
Buds are bright red

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-08-01
10 inch pot

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-09-14
With crests and reversions

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-06-26
Buds, blooms and fruit at the start of summer

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-04-18

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-06-05

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Arenas Valley, NM My Home
Date: 2018-12-12

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-02-08

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2010-12-26

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-03-21
At the start of spring

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-03-12
Both tubercles and arms produce vestigial leaves

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-08-31
10 inch wide pot, 6 inch tall stem

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2012-04-12

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-06-11
Volunteer seedling, after separation. Ground level is where the

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-04-21

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2012-04-19

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2016-04-23

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2014-05-14

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-07-04
6 inch pot

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2013-01-27
Day long sun (southern exposure)

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-02-23
Propagules

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-08-03

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-05-27
Recently rooted cutting, purple is a stress color

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-10-16
Removing an offset

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: National Botanical Garden (DC) | November 2022
Date: 2022-11-26

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-05-30
With offsets, cyathia and fruit

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Cebe Cottages Transkei Eastern Cape
Date: 2015-06-28
Euphorbia Flanaganii

Uploaded by Murume

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Baja California
Date: 2016-10-17
10.5" pot

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: October 28, 2011
view from the side

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Baja California
Date: 2016-07-29
Fruit is ready for collection when it turns brown (4 total in ima

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: March 2012
This plant is now blooming for the first time for me.

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: California Backyard
Date: 2016-07-17
10 Year Old Medusa

Uploaded by John93035

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: At our garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 2016-02-18 - Winter
Euphorbia flanaganii this winter Feb 2016

Uploaded by tarev

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: October 28, 2011
a very healthy specimen

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Photo courtesy of Kevin Morykwas, Steve's Leaves, Inc.

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: At our garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 2014-06-17
Photo update of my E. flanaganii as of 17June 2014

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by LAGardengirl

Location: Baja California
Date: 2013-11-29

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 9/21/2010
Recused from a Big Box store on 9/21/2010

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 9/9/2011
Rescued plant on 9/9/2011

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: In our garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 2016-10-26 - Fall Season
Caudex of Euphorbia flanaganii

Uploaded by tarev

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on May 8, 2017 9:10 PM concerning plant:

South African succulent Euphorbia. Probably the most common of the medusoid Euphorbias in cultivation. Like the other ones, it grows a central "head" with many "arms" (the venomous snakes of Greek mythology) radiating outward around it. The stem may grow a few inches high and wide, the total width of the plant up to a foot or more in strong light. Not a great choice for low light situations (the arms grow weak and long, sprawling all over). Yellow flowers. May be self fertile. Easy to grow from offsets or from seed. May blush red in direct sun. Extremely photogenic when grown right.

Reply to this comment
Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Sep 10, 2011 4:00 AM concerning plant:

Don't be afraid to attempt to rehabilitate a Medusa's Head even when it looks bad. Many times the plants have been over-watered and can be salvaged with a little TLC. Always check for root mealies by removing the plant from the pot. Replace the old soil with fresh soil.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
mingo1943	On May 13, 2018	Obtained plant I don't have any event , i just want to buy the plant madusa. How and where can i buy it. I live in Southwest Texas. I had this plant but i think it just walked away.
MySecretIslandGarden	On April 28, 2023	Bloomed
MySecretIslandGarden	On February 17, 2023	Bloomed
MySecretIslandGarden	On July 26, 2022	Bloomed First bloom for me

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Euphorbia flanaganii by valleylynn	Jun 10, 2018 7:43 PM	10
13 rows by Baja_Costero	Apr 19, 2021 5:32 PM	0
How do I get one by WebTucker	May 28, 2022 6:56 PM	2

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Euphorbias Medusa's Head (Euphorbia flanaganii)

Euphorbias

Medusa's Head (Euphorbia flanaganii)