Family: Euphorbiaceae
Common Name: Slipper Flower, Zig-zag Plant

These succulent, clumping shrubs from the West Indies, California and Mexico have erect, jointed, cylindrical branches to 1 m (3 ft) high, alternate, deciduous leaves and showy, red bracts enclosing small flowers, in summer. They can be grown in warm rockeries and make good feature plants for succulent gardens. In most of the UK, they are generally grown as house plants, or in a warm greenhouse or conservatory.

Species

P. macrocarpus, from Mexico, has green, cylindrical, branching stems, to 1 m (3 ft) high and about 1 cm (½ in) thick, with tiny leaves and red flowers with red bracts.

P. tithymaloides, zig-zag plant, from the West Indies, is probably the best-known species and makes a good pot plant for the home, greenhouse or conservatory. Growing to 2 m (6 ft) high, it has unusual, thin, dark green stems that change direction in a zig-zag fashion and larger, mid-green leaves. The cultivar 'Variegatus' has green leaves, flushed with white and pink.

Cultivation

In the greenhouse or conservatory, grow in pots of well-drained, gritty, soil-based potting compost. Provide good light, but shade plants from direct sun. During the winter, the compost should be kept only slightly moist. Apply water in moderation during the rest of the year. Outdoors grow in well-drained soil with full sun or partial shade. Propagate from cuttings taken from the tops of the stems, in summer. Provide bottom heat for rooting. Plain green species can also be raised from seed sown in spring. Seed should be germinated at 21°C (70°F).

Climate

Frost-free and tropical only.