Euphorbia, Pencil Tree, Milkbush, Milk Bush, Finger Tree, Sticks of Fire 'Rosea'

I get more positive comments from people on this plant than most others. Easy to propagate by just snipping and replanting however the ne...Read Morew cutting does need good moisture (do not allow to dry out) to take root. After that it's very hard to kill this plant, drought tolerant, unless a hard freeze occurs for more than overnight. Easy to shape using pruners as I now have some looking bush-like and some tree-like, depending on location and the appearance i want to achieve. They also do well in pots.. BE CAREFUL handling by NOT touching your eyes after touching this plant! Intense burning of eyes will occur and I've heard of victims having to go to the hospital for this condition. As stated, winter and early spring in full sun will give an amazing deep red color and in summer will be light orange/green.
ADD EDIT: Gave a cutting to my pool guy and warned him of handling/eyes. He still ended up at Emergency Care and his wife forced him to pull out the plant and throw it away. Can't stress this enough. If handling, use gloves and eye protection. Then still wash your hands and face thoroughly. Example: If you touch any of the plant bare handed, then wipe sweat away from your forehead, new sweat can lead to your eyes and they will burn like hell. If this happens flush eyes well with water or saline. Big Box stores now carry these and i don't see these warnings. crazy. Only negative of this plant.

The plant was green with red tips, it has now turned white/cream colored. Our only guess is from too much water. Not sure if losing it.

Sometimes slow to get going in ground.Then, after acclimated they grow more robustly.Great accent plant and i imagine a large number of ...Read Morethem in a rock garden would be a traffic stopper.And not as much worry as regular pencil tree from the sap since you most likely won't be pruning the compact globular form of Firestick's. A bit more tender to cold also. I doubt it could be a 9a or 9b for very long. A 25 for sure would kill it.
EDIT: Since i wrote that we have had the freeze of Jan 07 and the chill rain of 08. The freeze had less damage at 30f then the much more damage from rotting limbs in the cold,rainy period of mid winter 08. It has comeback since then from a loss of over 50% to make a nice looking,narrower shrub.Now in its fifth or six summer outdoors in Hayward it was moved from a large planter to in ground. Surprised to see 'Firesticks' had such a thick taproot. Ironic that 'Firesticks" might be the best drought and fire resistant ornamental you could plant.
UPDATE: Its now almost 2015 and even though I haven't aged a day,Firesticks has and well. About 4' tall and as wide at its widest,this time of year is the best for color. Right around midsummer you wonder why you planted it with the drab pale pink- and winter worn segments. Then,it remakes it self in time for the Holidays.
update: Its now 2018 and I can hardly believe its now 15 years of this plant. Right now the two greatest dangers to this plant is A: Plant cutting takers who think its a fun thing to do is snap off a leader or two. B: A cool wet Med winter...the constantly wet soils from Dec- Spring are what will cause rot. Best to plant in sunniest,driest spot here in the bay area.

Bright light/ Sun. to 6' or taller. Hardy to 32F. Water thoroughly when dry. considered rare red form of Pencil Cactus. Color is intense ...Read Morein cold winter months. Protect from frost.

Great plant for Southern California... doesn't seem to grow anywhere near as large as the non red form- low growing shrub up to maximum o...Read Moref 4-6' tall. This plant is one of the most delicate of the Euphorbias in terms of releasing its gooey toxic sap. Just brushing against this species will usually break off a stem and it will ooze. I have gotten so much sap on me from moving these plants, yet never gotten any irritation (except for those few times I rubbed my eyes- ouch!!)- very individual reaction to Euphorbia saps.. some sensitive, some not. This plant HAS to be grown in full sun or it will often yellow or green up on you, so if you want the good color- sun. Cold makes it even redder. In spring the foliage comes out temporarily- small, soft, succulent red leaves.

Like all Euphorbia HANDLE WITH CARE, the latex/sap is dangerous and can cause skin rash, itching and general discomfort.

Plant also called Firesticks. Beautiful red pencils. Native of South Africa. Allow to dry between waterings.