Euphorbia mauritanica

pencil milk bush
Thornless succulent shrub thrives in pots and by the sea. Tolerates total drought once established. Needs good drainage.
Euphorbia mauritanica
height 3–4ft
width 3–4ft
tolerates Coast, Cool Summers, Drought, Deer , Fog, Gophers, Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Neglect, Salt, Wind
water
needs		 Low
water
info		 Euphorbias are very drought tolerant but will grow faster if they receive some summer water, usually every couple weeks to a month once established (let the plant dry out between waterings). If you aren’t getting summer growth you may be underwatering. These plants prefer a dry winter; outdoors in central California, they won’t need supplemental winter water once established.
hardy
to		 27F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin S Africa
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 16, 17, 19–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

If grown in part sun this plant becomes open and meandering, often needing the support of other plants or structures. When grown in hot sun it is dense, round and compact.
Avoid toxic sap when pruning (thankfully this plant naturally grows into a flawless dome) and keep this plant back from pathways where the brittle stems could be broken. On the upside, this sap also makes the plant impervious to predation!