Euphorbia Lactea

Euphorbia lactea is a tall, spiny succulent from tropical Asia, mainly India and Sri Lanka. It looks so much like a cactus that people often call it a candelabra cactus or false cactus, but it is really a spurge, and all parts of it contain a milky, irritating sap.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Euphorbia lactea
Scientific name	Euphorbia lactea
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Malpighiales
Family	Euphorbiaceae
Genus	Euphorbia
Conservation status	Data Deficient
Type	Upright succulent shrub; not a true cactus
Habitat	Tropical Asia; well-drained, sunny spots
Native range	Tropical Asia, mainly India
Colours	Deep green branches
Height	Up to 5 m in the wild
Special feature	Milky sap is poisonous and irritates skin and eyes

What Euphorbia Lactea Looks Like

This upright, shrubby plant can reach about 5 meters (16 feet) tall in the wild, though potted plants stay much smaller. Its green branches are 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) thick and have three or four ridged sides, so a cut branch looks triangular or diamond-shaped. Pairs of short, dark spines, about 5 mm long, run along the ridges.

The branches are often marbled with pale, creamy-white stripes, which is where the name “mottled spurge” comes from. The plant also produces tiny leaves, but they drop off quickly, leaving the green stems to do the work of making food from sunlight.

Euphorbia lactea has many common names, including mottled spurge, candelabra plant, candelabra cactus, false cactus, dragon bones, frilled fan and hat rack cactus.

Photo by: Frank Vincentz

A Spurge, Not a Cactus

The genus Euphorbia is huge, with around 2,000 species, and belongs to the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It includes plants that look nothing alike: the poinsettia sold at Christmas, the thorny crown of thorns plant, garden spurges and many fleshy succulents.

Many euphorbias from the dry parts of Africa, Madagascar and Asia look remarkably like the cacti of North and South America. They are not closely related. Instead, both groups developed thick, water-storing stems and protective spines because they faced similar dry conditions. Scientists call this convergent evolution.

One easy way to tell them apart is the sap: cut a euphorbia and it oozes white latex, while most cacti have clear, watery sap. Cactus spines also grow from small fuzzy pads, which euphorbias do not have.

Coral Cactus

The popular houseplant sold as coral cactus is a crested form of Euphorbia lactea, often labeled ‘Cristata’. Its growing tip spreads out into a wavy, fan-shaped crest that looks like coral. It is usually grafted on top of the stem of another euphorbia to help it grow.

Where It Grows

Euphorbia lactea is native to the tropics of South Asia. It is also grown widely in other warm places, including Florida and the West Indies, and in some areas it has escaped from gardens and formed thick clumps in the wild.

Uses

In India and other warm countries, Euphorbia lactea is often planted as a living fence or hedge, because its spiny branches grow into a dense barrier that animals avoid. It has also been traditionally used in folk medicine, but its sap is toxic, so it should never be used as a home remedy.

Safety First

Every part of the plant contains milky latex that can irritate the skin and badly hurt the eyes and mouth. Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling or cutting it, wash your hands afterward, and keep it away from small children and pets. If sap gets in the eyes, rinse with plenty of water and get medical help.

Growing Euphorbia Lactea at Home

Light and Temperature

This plant loves bright light. Indoors, place it in a sunny window, ideally one facing south or west. Outdoors, it grows all year only in frost-free places, such as USDA zones 10 and 11. Elsewhere, keep it indoors in winter and move it outside in the warm months if you like. It should be kept above about 50°F (10°C).

Soil and Pots

Use a fast-draining cactus and succulent mix, or mix regular potting soil with plenty of coarse sand or grit. An unglazed clay pot with drainage holes is a good choice, because it lets the soil dry out more quickly.

Watering

Overwatering is the most common way to kill this plant. During spring and summer, water thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes, then wait until the top few inches of soil are dry before watering again. In winter, when growth slows down, water only occasionally, just enough to stop the stems from shriveling.

Euphorbia lactea is happy with normal household humidity and does not need misting.

Fertilizing

This plant does not need much feeding. A diluted cactus fertilizer once a month or so in spring and summer is enough. Do not feed it in winter.

Propagation

Euphorbia lactea is easily grown from cuttings in spring or summer. Wearing gloves, cut off a branch and rinse the cut end with water to stop the latex flowing. Leave the cutting in a dry, shady place for a week or two until the cut end forms a dry callus. Then plant it in dry cactus mix, keep it in bright light and wait a week or so before watering lightly. Roots usually form within a few weeks.

Pests

Check your plant now and then for mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects. Fungus gnats can appear if the soil stays too wet. Small infestations can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or a gentle spray of water, and insecticidal soap can help with larger problems.

Euphorbia lactea FAQs

Related: Euphorbia Milii