Birthday
HydrangeasThis article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. African milk bush (Synadenium grantii), which botanists now place in the genus Euphorbia, is a striking and undemanding houseplant, sometimes called the "love tree". It grows quickly, looks great indoors and forgives many beginner mistakes.
About the plant
Synadenium comes from dry regions of East Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi). In the wild it's a shrub or small tree up to 3 m tall; indoors, 60–150 cm. It has fleshy stems and large, oval, glossy leaves. The popular form 'Rubra' has wine-purple leaves that colour up even more in the sun.
Indoors it rarely flowers — small red blooms in winter, mostly on mature plants. It's grown mainly for its foliage.
Care at home
| Factor | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright — a south, east or west window. Morning and evening sun is good; shade from midday summer sun. In shade the stems stretch and red leaves turn green. |
| Temperature | 22–26 °C in summer, 12–15 °C in winter, never below 10 °C or it drops its leaves. |
| Watering | When the top two-thirds of the compost is dry, with tepid, settled water. Empty the saucer. Sparingly in winter. |
| Humidity | Copes well with dry indoor air. Rinse dust off the leaves with a warm shower, covering the compost. |
| Compost | Cactus and succulent mix with coarse sand, perlite and charcoal; drainage is essential. |
| Feeding | Monthly from spring to autumn with a succulent fertiliser. |
| Repotting | Young plants yearly in spring, mature ones every 2–3 years into a heavy, stable pot. |
Pruning and shaping
Synadenium grows fast — up to 25 cm a year — so without pruning it becomes a long bare stick. In spring, cut back the tips and overly long stems to encourage branching and a bushy shape. Blot the cut straight away and dust it with charcoal to stop the milky sap.
Propagating from cuttings
- In spring or early summer, wearing gloves, take a 10–15 cm tip cutting.
- Rinse the cut in warm water to remove the sap and let the cutting dry for 1–2 days.
- Plant it in moist sand and peat (or succulent compost).
- Keep it warm (20–24 °C) and bright but out of direct sun, watering sparingly.
- It will root in 2–4 weeks.
Common problems
| Problem | Cause and fix |
|---|---|
| Leaf drop | Cold below 10 °C, draughts, over- or underwatering. Adjust watering and move it somewhere warm. |
| Leggy stems | Too little light — move it closer to the window and prune. |
| Leaves losing red colour | Not enough sun. |
| Stem base rotting | Waterlogging. Root a healthy tip and replace the compost. |
| Pests | Mealybugs, scale and spider mites — treat with an insecticide. |
Safety
- Handle the plant with gloves and don't touch your eyes or mouth.
- If sap gets on your skin, wash with soap and water; if it gets in your eyes, rinse thoroughly and see a doctor.
- Keep it out of children's rooms and away from cats and dogs that might chew it.
FAQ
Why is it called the "love tree"?
Because of the reddish, heart-like leaves of the red form.
Does synadenium flower indoors?
Rarely: mature plants sometimes produce small red flowers in winter.
Can I root synadenium in water?
You can, but it's more reliable to dry the cutting and plant it straight into a light mix — there's less risk of rot.
Find more easy-care plants in UFL's houseplants section, and read about houseplants that can cause allergies and irritation in this article.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
