Synadenium grantii var rubra

Synadenium grantii 'Ruby', Synadenium grantii var rubrum, Euphorbia bicompacta var. rubra, Euphorbia umbellate cv. Rubra, Euphorbia pseudograntii

Red African Milk Bush, Purple Leaf Brown Jug Plant, Red Milk Bush, African Poinsettia,Tanzanian Red Milk Bush

Euphorbiaceae

This plant is indigenous to the Kaivasha District in Kenya.

one-gallon

6-15'

6-8'

25 to 30°F; -3.9 to -1.1°C

Extreme heat tolerance

S. grantii var rubra looks best with full sun along the coast but can take some shade inland.

Drought tolerant but needs water when actively growing.

Divide, prune and repot as desired.

With its tall height and tropical foliage it makes a nice screening hedge or vibrant colored backdrop for lower-growing contrasting colored succulents. The dark red form is very striking when contrasted with silver and bluish silver succulents, or orange-leaved aloes, etc. This plant is poisonous and should not be placed where it can be easily eaten by small children or pets.

S. grantii var rubra is easily propagated from stem cuttings. Allow them to dry and callous over before planting them in well-draning soil.

Stem and root rot in poor draining or damp soils in winter.

S. grantii var rubra is a thornless semi-succulent shrub or small tree. It branches profusely near the base with stems that are covered in alternate large, tropical looking foliage. The leaf coloration is quite variable covering a range of reddish-purple leaves with occasional green spots to the reverse of apple-green leaves with reddish spots. S. grantii is an easy-to-grow plant and can take abuse and neglect. This plant produces large amounts of irritating latex sap if injured. The latex containes diterpene esters and can cause contact dermatitis. All the plant's parts are considered poisonous, so it should not be grown around small children or animals that like to eat plants.