Origin and Habitat: SW. Saudi Arabia to N. Yemen.
Habitat: Euphorbia fruticosaSN|14979]]SN|14979]] grows in well-drained stony, but deep soils and in the crevices of rock faces of hills and slopes. It occurs in open drought-deciduous shrubland and is widely diffused throughout drylands and it is often dominant.

• Euphorbia fruticosa Forssk.

Description: Euphorbia fruticosaSN|14979]]SN|14979]] is a succulent to woody cactus-like shrubs, branching at the base to form a spiny cushion of many twin-spined stems.
Stems: Columnar, up to 9 cm in diameter and 50-70 cm tall, chunky powdery blue-green or yellowish-green, ribbed. A 'blue' form is available.
Ribs: 10 to 13 deep, vertical or slightly twisted with shallow and very closely set teeth.
Leaves: Small, short lived, obovate, fasciculate.
Spines: In pairs from a tan spine shields, and very packed (almost touching) on the rib border, short, tiny, tan coloured that spreads at right angle
Flowers: Monoecious and showy bright yellow cyathias on 2-3 forked cymes, clustered in 2 to 5 rayed umbels. They grow numerous on the rims of the ribs near the plants apex.
Blooming season: Autumn to spring.
Seeds: Subglobose, 2,5 mm in diameter.
Roots: Slightly tuberous

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Dicotyledons” Springer, 2002
2) Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plalnts: Abromeitiella to Euphorbia” Blandford Press, 1960
3) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/ago/2011
4) Doreen Court “Succulent Flora of Southern Africa” CRC Press, 01/giu/2000
5) Alain Campbell White, Robert Allen Dyer, Boyd L. Sloane “The succelent Euphorbisae (southern Africa)” Abbey garden press, 1941
6) Werner Rauh “Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti” Smithsonian Institution Press 1984
7) Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. Welman, E. Reitief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. v. Wyk & A. Nicholas. “List of species of southern African plants.” Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2). 1987.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a winter dormant and easy species to grow that is suited for any well drained soil in full sun. But young plant are happy growing indoors, where they can easily reach the ceiling. Give the plant an airy growing medium which mainly consists of non organic material such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould. Water regularly during the active growing season from March to September. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. Keep almost completely dry in winter. It is a moderately fast grower,and will quickly become large landscape masterpieces in just 3-7 years. It can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun. Like quite small pots, repott in very later winter, early spring. Can be pruned for shape and branching. Frost tender, frost free zones only.
Propagation: It is easy to propagate by cuttings in late spring to summer, just take a cutting of the plant let it dry for 1 or 2 weeks and stuff it in the ground (preferably dry, loose, extremely well draining soil).
Warning: All Euphorbias contain a white sap that can be irritating to eyes and mucous membranes. If contact is made with this white sap, take care to not touch face or eyes before washing hands with soap and water.
Uses:
* Grafting: It grows rapidly from cuttings, and is often used as grafting stock.
* Gardening: It can be grown in large, rocky, well-drained soil in gardens in drier areas. It is very drought resistant but susceptible to frost. It makes one of the better house plants for an Euphorbia, dealing well with low light situations (though recommend higher light if possible). Somewhat user-friendly with only shoert spines along the edges of the plant. Slightly delicate, though, and spines tear off easily, exposing that latexy sap. It is also appreciated as a live fence because it is easily propagated from untreated mature branch cuttings.