The Crown of Thorns is a total showstopper on any windowsill, but here’s a fun little secret: those vibrant “petals” aren’t actually flowers at all! Botanically speaking, they’re called “bracts”—specialized leaves that have changed color to protect the tiny, modest flowers tucked inside.
Understanding the Bloom Cycle
In its natural habitat, a Crown of Thorns usually blooms between March and April. Because it’s native to the tropical landscapes of Madagascar, it doesn’t follow our four seasons. Instead, it lives by two: the dry season and the rainy season. To get those beautiful blooms in your own living room, you have to mimic that rhythm.
This means giving your plant a “dry rest” for several weeks. During this phase, you’ll want to cut back on watering and limit its light to no more than ten hours a day (what we call “short days”). Once that rest period is over, you simulate the “rainy season” by returning to your normal watering routine and moving the plant back to its favorite sunny spot.
If you want to shift the blooming schedule—say, to get flowers in the fall—you just have to time that dry rest accordingly. You can even simulate “short days” by covering the plant with a cardboard box after ten hours of light. If you skip this dry period and keep watering like normal year-round, your plant will think it’s a permanent rainy season and might never get around to blooming!
The Flowers
You can find the Crown of Thorns in a stunning array of colors these days, ranging from deep reds and soft pinks to bright yellows and crisp whites. Remember, those colorful kidney-shaped “petals” are actually the bracts surrounding the small, yellowish true flower.
One important heads-up: the Crown of Thorns is part of the Euphorbia family, which means every part of the plant—including the flowers—is toxic. It contains a milky sap that can really irritate your skin. I always recommend wearing gardening gloves when handling it, and definitely keep it out of reach of curious pets and kiddos!
