This species is readily available in cultivation but almost extinct in the wild, where it occurs only at a few localities near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Fortunately, it is easy to propagate and therefore will always exist as long as there are succulent plant collections. Our small Euphorbia obesa have spherical stems with horizontal purplish-brown coloring. Our medium-sized plants are spherical with a short cylindrical main stem. The stems range in color from grey to colored with horizontal purplish-brown stripes. These seedlings stand 1-2 inches tall and fit in 4-inch pots.