Why Do Crown of Thorns Flowers Change Color?

At PKP Garden, many plant lovers ask us:

“Why do my Crown of Thorns flowers start out pale and then change color later?”

The answer is simple. It’s completely natural, and it’s influenced by the plant’s environment.

Let’s explore the main reasons why Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) flowers change color and what you can do to support healthy, vibrant blooms.

1. It’s Natural 

When a Crown of Thorns flower first opens, it often looks pale, whitish, or soft in color. This is completely normal.

• The true color hasn’t fully developed yet.
• As the flower matures over the about a week, the color becomes richer, more saturated, and vibrant.

This natural color transition is part of the plant’s blooming process. So, give it time, and the flower will reveal its beauty eventually.

This is the exact same plant. I took this photo 1 week apart. Look at how the color changes as the time passes.

2. Temperature Affects Flower Color

Temperature plays a major role in how the flower color appears.

• In hot weather, flowers may become faded or washed out, especially under strong sunlight.

• In cold weather, the plant might stop blooming or produce weak flowers.

📌 Ideal Temperature Range:

For best temperature to grow Crown of thorns, keep your Crown of Thorns in 20–30°C conditions. This is the sweet spot for healthy growth and vibrant colors.

And this is the same plant, but one is the flower during summer, and the other is in the rainy season. You can see that an extremely hot weather can turn Crown of thorns flower color into white/pale.

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