Tropicals > Euphorbia > Euphorbia tirucalli > Euphorbia tirucalli
Euphorbia tirucalli
Indian Tree Spurge, Naked Lady or Pencil Tree
Origin: Native to South Africa.
| Family |
| Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus |
| Euphorbia |
| Species |
| tirucalli |
| Category |
| Tropicals |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 11b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 10 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 30 |
| Height |
| 6 m |
| Spread |
| 0.6 - 3 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| Rock gardens, potted indoor or patio plant, within succulent collections, arrangements or as a specimen. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant in loose, well-draining loam, sand or potted cacti mix in full to partial sun. |
| Shape |
| Upright spreading. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Habitat |
| Dry rocky plains and shrublands. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Smooth, glabrous branching stems with occasional branch scars. |
| Leaf Description |
| Smooth branch-like succulent branches, lanceolate, and range in length from 2 - 30 cm. |
| Flower Description |
| Small inflorescences, insignificant, in groups of 2 - 5 that appear at the apex of flowering stems. |
| Colour Description |
| Branches vary in colour from yellowish-green to vivid green. Pale yellow to creamy-white inflorescences. |
| Texture Description |
| Smooth. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Stem cuttings. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Has been used in the past in many cultures as a treatment for multiple ailments and illnesses, such as cancer, excrescence, tumors, and warts. It has also been used for asthma, cough, earache, neuralgia, rheumatism, toothache, and warts. The sap of the plant can be converted into latex. |
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