Looking for a plant that's as unique as you are? Look no further than the Medusa Head, also known as 'Euphorbia flanaganii', a beautiful member of Euphorbia genus!
In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa became a Gorgon, a female monster with snakes for hair and a gaze that could turn people into stone. The plant's unique appearance, with its twisting, snake-like stems and tufts of green leaves at the top, is said to resemble the head of Medusa, who was known for her hair made of snakes. The name "Medusa head" is a reference to this mythological connection. And let's talk about those snake-like branches - they can spread up to 16 inches in diameter, giving this stunning medusa head succulent an almost pan-like shape.
In the summer, clusters of yellow cyathium appear in the center of the plant at the tip of the stem; it's like having a tiny sun in your own home. This is definitely its most beautiful feature. Just wait until late winter or early spring, when tiny, brilliant yellow flowers cover this Euphorbia from head to toe. It's truly a spectacle!
With time, new pups will appear at the tips of its tendrils and form their own caudices - it's a never-ending cycle of bizarre beauty! This weird and wild succulent will continue to amaze as it grows into an even larger Medusa-like creation. This medusa head is exceptionally easy to propagate by divisions and cuttings so you can quickly grow your collection with just a few simple steps. So why wait?
Give your plant collection some serious edge with 'Euphorbia flanaganii'.
Watering Needs
The Medusa head Euphorbia is a succulent that definitely stands out from the crowd! Unlike its desert-dwelling counterparts, this little guy doesn't do well with extended periods of drought. If you're lucky enough to be the proud owner of one of these unique plants, make sure to water it weekly during those hot summer months.
When the soil is dry several inches below the surface, don't hesitate to give it a good soak. And get this - when your Medusa Head is feeling parched and in need of some hydration, it'll actually start curling its arms towards the center as if to say, "I'm thirsty!" So cute and clever!
Just make sure not to overdo it and let them sit in standing water, or else they could develop root rot (yikes!).
Light Requirements
The medusa head is known for its hardiness, but it's best grown in bright, indirect sunlight and hot weather. To ensure the succulent thrives, provide 8-10 hours of bright but indirect light. Without enough light, photosynthesis rates drop, branches become thin, colors appear dull, there is an unhealthy look to the plant, and growth is stunted.
Remember, learn to adjust your Medusa euphorbia to avoid burns if the location where you have the plant is exposed to direct sunlight.
Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs
The Euphorbia head medusa is like very airy, porous, nutrient-rich soil with a pH of 5.5 - 6.7, Succulents require fast-draining soil that dries completely between waterings. Your soil must have a sandy texture and a low water-holding capacity, just like desert soil. Soggy wet soil can damage your flanaganii succulent and contributes to bacterial and fungal rot. In addition, because of a lack of oxygen, soggy soil substitutes air pockets with water, resulting in an anaerobic environment that can kill your plant.
As an alternative, you can create your own potting mix by combining equal portions of perlite, coarse sand, and good natural potting soil. Ideally, you want to use our specialized potting mix that contains organic mycorrhizae to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your succulent to thrive.
When it comes to fertilizing your medusas head plant, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. Succulent prefers a fertilizer with lower doses of NPK, with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.
Hardiness Zones & More
As desert dwellers, the Medusa head enjoys hot temperatures. They prefer constant temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and can tolerate triple digits in the summer, so don't worry if your succulent gets too hot.
This Euphorbia, on the other hand, cannot handle frost, cold, or freezing temperatures, so make sure it doesn't get below 30 degrees F in its environment. If grown outdoors, the medusa head grows best in USDA zone 9 - 11.
Be sure to add Euphorbia flanaganii to your collection today and elevate the beauty of your home or garden with this stunning-looking plant.
| Bloom Season | Mid summer |
|---|---|
| Bloom Season | Spring |
| Botanical Name | Euphorbia flanaganii |
| Common Name | Jellyfish head euphorbia |
| Common Name | Medusa Head, Euphorbia caputmedusae |
| Dormancy | Winter |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae |
| Flower Color | Green |
| Flower Color | Green, Yellow |
| Flower Color | Green/yellow to brown/purple |
| Genus | Euphorbia |
| Growth Habit | Cylindrical |
| Growth Habit | snakelike branches |
| Growth Habit | Trailing, hanging |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Hardiness Zone | 9, 10, 11 |
| Hardiness Zone | 911 (USDA) |
| Hardiness Zone | 9b11 |
| Mature Size | 2 in. tall |
| Mature Size | 2 in. tall, 11 in. wide |
| Mature Size | 612 in. (1530 Cm) |
| Native Area | South africa |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Propagation | By offsets |
| Resistance | 0°c |
| Resistance | Drought tolerant |
| Resistance | Drought tolerant, deer resistant |
| Resistance | Drought tolerant, deer resistant, heat resistant |
| Soil PH | 6.5 |
| Soil PH | 6.5, Acidic, Neutral |
| Soil Type | Succulent potting mix soil |
| Special Features | Tendril like branches |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial shade |
| Sun Exposure | Partial shade |
| Toxicity | Safe for humans |
| Toxicity | Safe for humans, mildly toxic (Keep away from children) |
| Watering Needs | Moderate |
- Description
- Key Plant Features
Looking for a plant that's as unique as you are? Look no further than the Medusa Head, also known as 'Euphorbia flanaganii', a beautiful member of Euphorbia genus!
In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa became a Gorgon, a female monster with snakes for hair and a gaze that could turn people into stone. The plant's unique appearance, with its twisting, snake-like stems and tufts of green leaves at the top, is said to resemble the head of Medusa, who was known for her hair made of snakes. The name "Medusa head" is a reference to this mythological connection. And let's talk about those snake-like branches - they can spread up to 16 inches in diameter, giving this stunning medusa head succulent an almost pan-like shape.
In the summer, clusters of yellow cyathium appear in the center of the plant at the tip of the stem; it's like having a tiny sun in your own home. This is definitely its most beautiful feature. Just wait until late winter or early spring, when tiny, brilliant yellow flowers cover this Euphorbia from head to toe. It's truly a spectacle!
With time, new pups will appear at the tips of its tendrils and form their own caudices - it's a never-ending cycle of bizarre beauty! This weird and wild succulent will continue to amaze as it grows into an even larger Medusa-like creation. This medusa head is exceptionally easy to propagate by divisions and cuttings so you can quickly grow your collection with just a few simple steps. So why wait?
Give your plant collection some serious edge with 'Euphorbia flanaganii'.
Watering Needs
The Medusa head Euphorbia is a succulent that definitely stands out from the crowd! Unlike its desert-dwelling counterparts, this little guy doesn't do well with extended periods of drought. If you're lucky enough to be the proud owner of one of these unique plants, make sure to water it weekly during those hot summer months.
When the soil is dry several inches below the surface, don't hesitate to give it a good soak. And get this - when your Medusa Head is feeling parched and in need of some hydration, it'll actually start curling its arms towards the center as if to say, "I'm thirsty!" So cute and clever!
Just make sure not to overdo it and let them sit in standing water, or else they could develop root rot (yikes!).
Light Requirements
The medusa head is known for its hardiness, but it's best grown in bright, indirect sunlight and hot weather. To ensure the succulent thrives, provide 8-10 hours of bright but indirect light. Without enough light, photosynthesis rates drop, branches become thin, colors appear dull, there is an unhealthy look to the plant, and growth is stunted.
Remember, learn to adjust your Medusa euphorbia to avoid burns if the location where you have the plant is exposed to direct sunlight.
Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs
The Euphorbia head medusa is like very airy, porous, nutrient-rich soil with a pH of 5.5 - 6.7, Succulents require fast-draining soil that dries completely between waterings. Your soil must have a sandy texture and a low water-holding capacity, just like desert soil. Soggy wet soil can damage your flanaganii succulent and contributes to bacterial and fungal rot. In addition, because of a lack of oxygen, soggy soil substitutes air pockets with water, resulting in an anaerobic environment that can kill your plant.
As an alternative, you can create your own potting mix by combining equal portions of perlite, coarse sand, and good natural potting soil. Ideally, you want to use our specialized potting mix that contains organic mycorrhizae to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your succulent to thrive.
When it comes to fertilizing your medusas head plant, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. Succulent prefers a fertilizer with lower doses of NPK, with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.
Hardiness Zones & More
As desert dwellers, the Medusa head enjoys hot temperatures. They prefer constant temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and can tolerate triple digits in the summer, so don't worry if your succulent gets too hot.
This Euphorbia, on the other hand, cannot handle frost, cold, or freezing temperatures, so make sure it doesn't get below 30 degrees F in its environment. If grown outdoors, the medusa head grows best in USDA zone 9 - 11.
Be sure to add Euphorbia flanaganii to your collection today and elevate the beauty of your home or garden with this stunning-looking plant.
| Bloom Season | Mid summer |
|---|---|
| Bloom Season | Spring |
| Botanical Name | Euphorbia flanaganii |
| Common Name | Jellyfish head euphorbia |
| Common Name | Medusa Head, Euphorbia caputmedusae |
| Dormancy | Winter |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae |
| Flower Color | Green |
| Flower Color | Green, Yellow |
| Flower Color | Green/yellow to brown/purple |
| Genus | Euphorbia |
| Growth Habit | Cylindrical |
| Growth Habit | snakelike branches |
| Growth Habit | Trailing, hanging |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Hardiness Zone | 9, 10, 11 |
| Hardiness Zone | 911 (USDA) |
| Hardiness Zone | 9b11 |
| Mature Size | 2 in. tall |
| Mature Size | 2 in. tall, 11 in. wide |
| Mature Size | 612 in. (1530 Cm) |
| Native Area | South africa |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Propagation | By offsets |
| Resistance | 0°c |
| Resistance | Drought tolerant |
| Resistance | Drought tolerant, deer resistant |
| Resistance | Drought tolerant, deer resistant, heat resistant |
| Soil PH | 6.5 |
| Soil PH | 6.5, Acidic, Neutral |
| Soil Type | Succulent potting mix soil |
| Special Features | Tendril like branches |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial shade |
| Sun Exposure | Partial shade |
| Toxicity | Safe for humans |
| Toxicity | Safe for humans, mildly toxic (Keep away from children) |
| Watering Needs | Moderate |