Euphorbia pseudocactus

candelabra spurge
Creates shrubby wide colony of serrated columns, patterned yellow variegation. Pots. Gardens with good drainage. Mass bloom of small yellow flowers at branch tips.
Euphorbia pseudocactusEuphorbia pseudocactusEuphorbia pseudocactus
height 2–4ft
width 2–8ft
tolerates Drought, Deer , Gophers, Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Wind
water
needs		 Low
water
info		 These euphorbia are from the desert and as such like to go totally bone dry between waterings, making them very low-maintenance. To get good healthy growth your plant doesn’t want to sit around totally dried out during it’s growing season. Once it is dry water it.

This Euphorbia comes from an area with summer rainfall and is actively growing during that time, when it is forgiving of overwatering errors. During winter dormancy it should be kept extra dry and will be intolerant of overwatering.

Remember that if kept in a small pot your plant will want more frequent watering.
hardy
to		 27F
exposure Part Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin South Africa
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 13, 16, 17, 19–24, H2

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Euphorbia respond well to pruning. They will look scarred for a while, but then will push new growth wherever they are pruned, often giving you several new growth points. Take care when pruning, as euphorbias have toxic sap that can cause a skin rash or damage to the eyes (make sure to rinse repeatedly with water if sap gets on your skin or in your eyes).
As columnar euphorbias grow they will transition from colorful and smooth new growth to dull, brown and rough older growth. This is called corking, and it is totally natural. Think of this like an oak tree where the new shoots are shiny and green, but then eventually you get a trunk covered in rough dull bark.
Soft dark brown spots on Euphorbia are usually a sign of rot. Carve these spots out with a sterile knife immediately (carve all the way back to healthy-looking tissue). Rot usually results from overwatering, but it can also be caused by drastic under-watering. Occasionally this will start at the base of the plant, which means the roots have rotted. If you’d like to save the plant you’ll need to remove the top above the rotten base, let the top sit for two weeks in a shady spot, and then replant in very sharp-draining soil. Place the cutting in a warm spot to re-root, preferably not in harsh sun.

Special Interest

These plants are often confused with columnar cactus (indeed this one is named pseudocactus, meaning false cactus!) because, through convergent evolution, they have adapted into a similar form. However, euphorbias are not closely related to cactus. In fact they’re more closely related to the holiday poinsettia. Some notable differences are euphorbia’s latex sap, insignificant flowers, tiny little leaves when in growth, and thorns instead of spines to protect themselves.