Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Medusa's Head
Medusa's Head is a low euphorbia with dozens of gray-green, snake-like arms spreading from a central head, up to about 3 feet across. Small yellow-green flowers ring the center in spring and summer. It suits a wide, shallow pot or the front of a succulent bed, with some afternoon shade in a Valley summer.
Best for: wide pots, tabletop containers and the front of succulent beds with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Its arms spread up to about 3 feet across from a low center, so a wide, shallow pot shows it best. Fill the pot with a fast-draining cactus mix.
It stays under a foot tall, so it fits the front edge of a bed where the arms can be seen from above.
Small yellow-green flowers circle the central head in spring and summer, framed by the spreading arms.
It needs frost protection and rots in soggy soil. In extreme summer heat it needs afternoon shade. The sap irritates skin and eyes.
Water deeply, then let the soil dry out before the next watering. In summer it may need water about weekly when the top few inches are dry. Give little or none in winter. Soggy soil rots the roots.
Give it at least six hours of sun, with afternoon shade in a Valley summer.
Keep it above about 25 to 30°F. Cover it or move the pot under cover on freeze nights.
Every cut or broken stem bleeds milky sap that irritates skin and eyes. Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when you plant or trim it. Keep the sap away from your face, eyes and mouth.
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.
Why is it called Medusa's head?
Its many gray-green, snake-like arms spread from a central head, like the snakes of Medusa.
How big does it get?
It stays under a foot tall and spreads up to about 3 feet across. It grows slowly, so pick a wide pot it can fill over time.
Does it need full sun?
Give it at least six hours of sun, with afternoon shade in a Valley summer. An east-facing patio works well.
How often should I water it?
In summer, water about weekly when the top few inches are dry. Give little or none in winter.
How cold can it take?
It takes only light frost, about 25 to 30°F. Cover it or move the pot under cover on cold nights.
Is the sap dangerous?
Yes, handle it with care. The milky sap from a cut or broken stem irritates skin and eyes and is toxic if eaten. Wear gloves and eye protection, and wash sap off skin with water.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Euphorbias are toxic to dogs and cats if chewed; the sap irritates the mouth and stomach and can cause vomiting. Plant it where pets cannot chew it.
Is Medusa's head a cactus?
No. It is a euphorbia, a succulent related to poinsettias, even though it looks like a cactus. A broken stem bleeds milky sap, which cacti do not.
Medusa's Head for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Medusa's Head is Euphorbia flanaganii, a South African succulent with snake-like arms. It is a pot plant in the Valley, happiest with afternoon shade in summer. Below is what to expect on size, sun, water, cold and handling.
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.
What is a Medusa's head plant?
It is Euphorbia flanaganii, a low South African succulent with snake-like arms from a central head.
How big does Medusa's head get?
Plan for under a foot tall and up to about 3 feet across.
Medusa's head sun in Phoenix
Give it at least six hours of sun with afternoon shade in summer.
How often to water Medusa's head
About weekly in summer when the top few inches are dry, little or none in winter.
Is Medusa's head frost hardy?
It takes only light frost, about 25 to 30°F. Protect it on freeze nights.
Is Medusa's head toxic?
Yes. The sap irritates skin and eyes and is toxic if eaten. Keep it away from pets.
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.