Recent service call to: Coconut Creek, Florida to do pruning on this beautiful cactus.
- Feb 7
- 2 min read
Euphorbia lactea is a deciduous, spiny, usually leafless, cactus-like, succulent shrub or small tree. It can grow to a height of 15 feet but is typically maintained as a 1 to 2-foot houseplant. This plant is a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) and .is native to Sri Lanka. The plant has adapted itself to dry regions and appears in many tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide. It has been known to escape from cultivation and form dense thickets. It grows wild in tropical Asia and is widely cultivated in the West Indies, Florida and many tropical areas worldwide. The specific epithet, lactea, means "milk' and reference the plant's milky-like sap.
Mottled spurge is best grown in well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It cannot tolerate wet soil, but you can allow soils to dry out after each watering. Water consistently in summer to prevent soils from totally drying out and decrease watering in winter. The plant is winter hardy to zones 10 and 11 and is intolerant to frost.
The plant has spiny stems and mottled branches that are green with white lines, sometimes growing in a crested (cristate) form. Tiny leaves do appear in summer but drop quickly leaving the plant leafless. Flowering is rare; however, if flowers appear they are found at the stem tips and are yellow-tinged, paired cyathia. Other characteristics include 4-angled stems with paired black stem thorns. If injured, the plant will ooze a toxic, milky latex.
Potted plants can be overwintered indoors or grown year-round as a houseplant. In the warmer climates, it may be used as a hedge.
Disease, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known serious insect or disease problems. Aphids, mealybugs and nematodes may appear. Watch for mites.
Avoid contact with poisonous plant sap by wearing protective gloves. All parts of this plant are poisonous. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
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