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Mystery stowaway

CalendulaCalendula Posts: 69
in Plants

I bought a potted acer today and when I got it home I found this small plug plant hiding in the branches. Can anyone identify it and tell me how to care for it? It's about 10cm tall with 1cm spines on the main stem. I've repotted it in ordinary garden soil and put it in the greenhouse for now.

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Posts

  • KarmageorginaKarmageorgina Posts: 16

    Not sure whether this will help but looks like a young rhododendron to me and would possibly make sense they've ended up together as both prefer acidic soil. Just a shot in the dark!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 26,848

    Do rhodos have spines?

  • FairygirlFairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 48,954

    No - not in my experience nut! Leaves are quite similar though.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 9,854

    I have a vague recollection that I had one of these many years ago.
    As best I can remember it's a house plant of some sort, not unlike a succulent, it had tiny (1-2mm) red flowers that appeared at the end of a stem.

    Got me going now - I'll be racking my old brain all day!

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 9,854

    Think I've found what I thought it may be - euphorbia millii - spines look about right, but not sure about the leaves

    pic here - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_milii_-_Tower_Hill_Botanic_Garden.JPG

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Woodgreen wonderboyWoodgreen wonderboy Posts: 2,322

    If in doubt treat it as tender and see what it does, over the next year in it's pot. Later if you think it might be hardy put it outside but with some shelter when necessary, and even later risk it as hardy?

  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 26,848

    Pete, you're probably right about it being a houseplant, (tender anyway, possiblya tree) but E. milii is a succulent plant and that doesn't look like one.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 9,854

    could try snapping a leaf off and see if there's milky sap
    it does look very similar to e. millii though - aka crown of thorns-

    image

     

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • CalendulaCalendula Posts: 69
    Thanks Pete8 I think you are right! Definite milky sap.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 9,854

    As soon as I saw the pic this morning it rang a bell. Must be 40+yrs ago I bought something very similar looking from a fete and just earlier when I saw it was also known as crown of thorns, it all came back. Mine took ages to flower, but it kept going for years as a houseplant until there were just a lot of vicious stems with a few leaves at the top - I think I probably overwintered it outside at that stage image

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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