Madagascar jewel: care, habitat & toxicity of Euphorbia leuconeura

Euphorbia leuconeura is a low-maintenance houseplant with a very unique way of dispersing its seeds. Due to its beautiful leaf veining and the fact that it is tolerant to shade, Madagascar jewel plants make excellent indoor companions.

Euphorbia leuconeura is commonly known as Madagascar jewel. In German, this plant is known as the ‘Spuckpalme’, which translates to ‘spitting palm’, owing to the unique way in which it propagates itself. Indeed, in its natural habitat, this plant is known to ‘shoot’ or ‘spit’ its seeds several metres away, ensuring that more plants will grow nearby. So, if you have a Madagascar jewel in your own houseplant collection, you may be lucky enough to find a seedling in a neighbouring pot!

Euphorbia leuconeura: origin and properties

Madagascar jewel (Euphorbia leuconeura) is an upright and mostly unbranched shrub. It is exclusively native to northern Madagascar, hence its name. In nature, it reaches up to 2m tall. It can also be grown indoors as a houseplant, where it generally grows up to 1m tall. Madagascar jewel is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and belongs to the spurge genus Euphorbia. Like most species of this kind, all parts of the plant contain a milky sap.

The trunk of this shrub goes woody quickly, is quite angular and often twisted in on itself, making it particularly interesting to look at. The trunk is also where this plant stores water. Even if the Madagascar jewel is old, dries out, or suffers any injuries, the trunk is still able to put out new branches. Thorns grow on the edges of the trunk from stipules. Madagascar jewel leaves are large, growing up to 15cm in length. These tongue-shaped, leathery leaves grow from the top of the trunk. When young, they have a noticeable white veining. There are no leaves growing along the trunk. The false flowers, which are typical of spurge plants, are found on the trunk between the thorns, and are quite inconspicuous.

By the way: the reason we call these ‘false flowers’ is because the Madagascar jewel has very small individual flowers, several of which come together to form a cluster of flowers that appears as one large blossom.

How does the Madagascar jewel disperse its seeds? Madagascar jewel plants are self-seeding. Its seeds are found in capsule fruits which dry out after ripening and then burst open explosively, dispersing their contents metres away. This seed dispersal mechanism is known as ballochory and is the plant’s way of creating its offspring.

Growing Euphorbia leuconeura: location, soil and co. 

Euphorbia leuconeura prefers a bright spot without too much direct sunlight. At most, this plant tolerates direct sunlight in the morning and in the evening. The palm also thrives in the shade but should still receive as much light as possible when in dark rooms. If it is in a north-facing room, place it directly by the window. Avoid draughts if possible. As this plant always grows towards the light, remember to rotate it regularly to ensure your plant grows evenly.

In summer, keep the plant somewhere warmer than in the winter. During the growing season, temperatures of 20 to 24 °C are ideal. In winter, the Madagascar jewel is dormant and is best kept at 14 to 16 °C.

Euphorbia leuconeura soil should be as permeable as possible and peat-free. Our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is ideal for this. Not only is our soil peat-free, but it also has a good water retention capacity and is well-structured. It does not sink as quickly and retains its light and airy structure, allowing enough air to get to the plant’s roots. As succulents like this Euphorbia require a particularly well-draining substrate, mix in about a third of expanded clay to the soil to further increase the permeability. To prevent waterlogging, create a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot before planting the Madagascar jewel. For this, you can use expanded clay, shards of clay or pebbles, for instance. It is also possible to grow this plant hydroponically. This is when, instead of soil, the plant is grown in expanded clay (for support) and a mineral nutrient water solution.

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Madagascar jewel plant care

Although the Madagascar jewel is relatively low-maintenance, it still needs a little attention. Like most houseplants, it needs regular watering and the occasional application of fertiliser.

Are Madagascar jewel plants winter hardy? No, as this is a tropical plant, it is not winter hardy. Overwinter your Madagascar jewel indoors, but keep it cooler than in summer, ideally at a temperature of around 14 to 16 °C. Do not let it get any colder – if the temperature drops to below 10 °C, this may damage your plant. Warm overwintering is also possible. 

Watering, pruning and fertilising

Madagascar jewel plants have a moderate water requirement. Water regularly and never let the root ball dry out. As soon as the surface of the soil feels dry, it is time to water. If possible, use lime-free water like rainwater. About 15 minutes after watering, pour off any excess water that has collected in the saucer. Water less often when the plant is dormant during the winter months. If the leaves begin to droop, this is probably a sign that your Madagascar jewel is thirsty, so water it immediately.

Euphorbia leuconeura only needs fertilising during the growing season, so from spring to autumn. The easiest way to do this is with a liquid fertiliser as you can simply dilute it into the water you use for watering your plants. The Madagascar jewel’s nutrient requirements are rather low. After planting into fresh soil, it usually has enough nutrients for the upcoming months. After about three months, fertilise once a fortnight with a liquid fertiliser, such as our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food. This primarily organic fertiliser is suitable for a wide range of indoor plants and, thanks to its special composition, ensures magnificent leaves and strong, healthy houseplants. As Euphorbia leuconeura does not require many nutrients, half a dose of this fertiliser should suffice.

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Generally speaking, it is not necessary to prune Madagascar jewel plants. It is in fact a good idea to avoid injuring the plant as they take a long time to recover. Dead or diseased parts of the plant, however, can be removed. Be sure to wear gloves and clean the secateurs thoroughly before and after use, as the milky sap which oozes out while pruning is toxic and can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations on contact. In nature, this sap serves as a defence mechanism against predators.

To ensure that it continues to flourish and grow larger, repot your Madagascar jewel into a larger pot every two years. Fresh substrate and more root space will encourage the plant to grow in spring.

What to do if your Madagascar jewel starts losing leaves?

While the Madagascar jewel is a fairly robust plant that is rarely affected by diseases or pests, incorrect care can cause some issues:

• Madagascar jewel losing leaves: If this plant loses its lower leaves, this is usually no cause for concern as it is a completely normal part of the ageing process. As it grows, the plant sheds its lower leaves and new ones grow from the top. However, if your Madagascar jewel is also losing some or all of the uppermost leaves, this may be due to waterlogging or too cool room temperatures.
  
• Madagascar jewel leaves turning yellow: Waterlogging is usually the cause of the leaves of Euphorbia leuconeura turning yellow. Check the soil to see whether it feels moist or has an unpleasant smell. If this is the case, repot the plant, water it less in future and always pour off excess water after watering. If you have not fertilised or repotted the plant for a long time, a lack of nutrients may also be responsible for yellowing leaves.
  
• Madagascar jewel getting droopy leaves: Drooping leaves could be a sign of either waterlogging or drought – though the Madagascar jewel tolerates drought better than too much water. Check the soil, repot if necessary and adjust how often you water accordingly.

How to propagate Madagascar jewel plants

It is possible to propagate Euphorbia leuconeura by taking stem cuttings. Do bear in mind, however, that it will take the plant a considerable amount of time to recover from this. To do this, cut an approximately 10 cm long piece off the main stem at an angle with a sharp knife and allow the milky sap to bleed out. To avoid skin irritation, wear gloves when doing this. Next, place the cutting in moist potting soil, such as our Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost, and place in a bright (but not sunny) spot. At around 20 °C, roots should form after about four weeks. The cuttings may root more quickly at warmer temperatures of 25 to 30 °C.

It is much easier to propagate this plant by seed. Euphorbia leuconeura is both self-pollinating and self-seeding. So, with a bit of luck, seeds from your Madagascar jewel may land in some nearby soil and germinate there. If you find the seeds on the floor, you can put them in growing soil and moisten them. At temperatures of about 20 °C, the seeds will germinate after about three weeks. Once the seedlings reach about 5cm high, repot them into their own pots with a more nutrient-rich substrate.

Is the Madagascar jewel plant toxic?

Yes, Euphorbia leuconeura is poisonous because the plant contains a poisonous milky sap. This oozes out when the plant is injured and can cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. For this reason, it is important to wear gloves when repotting and pruning. Ingesting Euphorbia leuconeura can lead to circulatory disorders and vomiting. This plant can be particularly dangerous for curious pets, so it is best to keep it out of reach of your furry friends.

The yucca palm, which is not really a palm tree at all, is also a very popular choice for houseplant lovers. Find tips on caring for yuccas in our article on yucca palm care.