Gallery The Tropical Zone ~ Flowers Of Hawai'i

Pedilanthus bracteatus

Pedilanthus bracteatus
Euphorbiaceae
Common Name: Slipper Plant
Candelilla

An exotic beauty from Mexico thriving upcountry at
Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula
Maui Hawai’i

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Category: Succulent
Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurges)
Origin: Mexico (North America)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Red
Bloomtime: Spring/Summer
Synonyms: [P pavonis, Euphorbia bracteata]
Height: 4-8 feet
Width: 3-4 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Drought Tolerant: Yes

Pedilanthus bracteatus (Slipper plant)
“This beautiful plant grows to around 6 feet tall (to 9 feet in habitat). This upright succulent branches from the base and has narrow cylindrical green stems with ovate leaves, with a thick mid-vein on the lower surface, that appear near the branch tips. All vegetative parts of the plant are often sparsely hairy.

In the warmth of late spring and summer appear the curiously shaped red cyathia (flower structures containing separate male and female parts) are enclosed in rounded reddish pink bracts near the branch tips.

These curious flowers on several Pedilanthus species are somewhat shoe shaped and gives this genus the common name Slipper Plant.

Other common names include Slipper Spurge and Candelilla (more commonly associated with Euphorbia antisyphilitica and Pedilanthus macrocarpus), for the hard brown wax from this species.

Plant in full sun in a well drained soil and water sparingly to not at all. This plant may be hardy to around 25° F .

The Pedilanthus have been reclassified many times and the current treatment is to include them with the genus Euphorbia, making this plant’s valid name Euphorbia bracteata.

This beautiful plant is native to dry deciduous woodlands in Mexico from Sonora to Guerrero and is easily distinguished from Pedilanthus macrocarpus, a Baja California species sometimes seen in southwestern gardens, by its taller height and longer stems as well as the presence of leaves at the branch tips which the leafless Pedilanthus macrocarpus lacks.” Pedilanthus bracteatus Botanical Information Source

This beautiful speciment was photographed at the lovely Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula on Maui

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Shooting Date/Time 21 July 2009 13:03:26
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
ISO Speed 100
Lens EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Macro
Focal Length 95.0 mm