Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Cherokee Crown of Thorns
Cherokee is a tall crown of thorns with bright red color. It can reach about 6 feet, taller than most crown of thorns sold today. Plant it along a foundation, by an east-facing entry or in a large pot, where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. It blooms off and on through the year, most in spring and fall.
Best for: Height and red color along a foundation, beside an east-facing entry, or in a large patio pot.
Crown of thorns works along foundations and in small, tight spaces. Cherokee adds height there, up to about 6 feet over time.
An east-facing entry or bed gives it morning sun and afternoon shade. In the Valley that is where crown of thorns does best.
It grows in containers on a patio. Pick a large pot for a tall plant, with a mix that drains well and a drainage hole.
Hot afternoon sun in the Valley is hard on it, and it takes only light frost. Sharp spines cover the stems, and the milky sap irritates skin and eyes.
- Border or mass planting2-3 ft apart, center to center
- Accent plants3 ft apart, center to center
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
First two weeks. In the Valley, water every 1 to 2 days in summer and every 3 to 4 days in the cooler months. Always water deeply, slow and long enough that moisture soaks down to the root zone, not just the surface.
After that, taper gradually. Stretch slowly to about every 7 days in summer, or every 10 to 14 days in the cooler months, by week 8. Higher and cooler areas water less often. See how to water new plants for your area and plant type.
Read the soil, not a schedule. Push a long screwdriver into the soil about an hour after watering. It slides easily through wet soil and stops at dry soil. Once a plant is rooted, water again when it will not go in more than 3 to 4 inches.
Fertilizer. Most desert-adapted plants establish without heavy feeding. Too much fertilizer pushes soft, leggy growth.
How tall does Cherokee crown of thorns get?
It is a tall variety and can reach about 6 feet. Many crown of thorns sold today stay around 2 to 3 feet.
What color is Cherokee?
Cherokee has bright red bracts, and each pair surrounds a tiny yellow flower in the center of the bloom.
How fast does it grow?
Crown of thorns grows slowly, so reaching full height takes time. Buy the larger size if you want height sooner.
When does crown of thorns bloom in the Valley?
It blooms off and on through the year, most heavily in spring and fall. Regular summer water helps it keep its leaves and keep blooming.
Can crown of thorns take full sun in Phoenix?
It does best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light. An east-facing spot is a good choice here.
How much water does it need?
Let the soil dry between waterings, and water more often in summer. Soggy soil can rot the roots.
Why does crown of thorns lose its leaves?
It can drop leaves in winter. Dry soil in summer can also cause leaf drop. Regular summer water helps it hold its leaves.
Will frost hurt crown of thorns?
It takes only light frost, to about 25 to 30°F. On frost nights, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet, not plastic.
Can crown of thorns hurt you?
Yes. Sharp spines cover the stems, and the milky sap irritates skin. Sap in the eyes can cause temporary blindness. Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection.
Is crown of thorns poisonous to pets?
Yes. It is toxic to dogs and cats if chewed, and can irritate the mouth and cause vomiting. Keep pets away from it.
Can I cut Cherokee back?
Yes. Stems can be cut back to shape it. Sap flows from each cut, so wear gloves and eye protection.
How far apart should I plant crown of thorns?
Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center, for a border or mass planting. Give single accent plants about 3 feet.
Cherokee Crown of Thorns for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Cherokee is a tall variety of crown of thorns, the thorny succulent shrub from Madagascar. It can reach about 6 feet and carries bright red bracts around tiny yellow flowers. Below is what to expect on height, sun, water, cold and pots in a Valley yard.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Cherokee crown of thorns in Phoenix yards
Cherokee is a tall crown of thorns with bright red bracts. It can reach about 6 feet. Valley homeowners use crown of thorns along foundations, by entries and in patio pots.
Tall crown of thorns varieties
Many crown of thorns sold today are compact, around 2 to 3 feet. Cherokee is a tall variety that can reach about 6 feet with bright red color.
Best spot for crown of thorns in Phoenix
Morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light, suit it best in the Valley. An east-facing bed or entry is a good fit.
Crown of thorns bloom season in Arizona
It blooms off and on through the year. The heaviest bloom comes in spring and fall.
Watering crown of thorns in summer
Water more often in summer, and let the soil dry between waterings. Summer water helps it keep its leaves. Soggy soil can rot the roots.
Protecting crown of thorns from frost
It takes only light frost, to about 25 to 30°F. On frost nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet to the ground and take it off in the morning.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.