Euphorbia tirucalli (Red Pencil Tree, Pencil cactus)

This very striking succulent shrub is a form of Euphorbia tirucalli, a plant that eventually can grow to 25 feet tall by 8 to 10 feet wide. 'Sticks on Fire' lacks the chlorophyll of the parent plant and, as such, is much slower growing and probably will never obtain the same size. We guess a reasonable size for 'Sticks on Fire' to reach is 4-8 feet but with time perhaps taller. The many branches on this interesting tree are as thin as pencils and a reddish-golden color with small leaves that are inconspicuous and soon drop. The color tends to fade closer to yellow in the summer, and becomes redder in the winter and color is always best when grown in full sun. It is drought tolerant but reliably cold hardy not much below 30 degrees F, depending on the duration. Be careful when handling this plant as the stems break easily and the milky sap can burn the skin if one is sensitive to it and certainly is not something to get into the eyes.

LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS
Winter Hardiness: 30-32° F

CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Category: Succulent

Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurges)

Origin: South Africa (Africa)

Height: 4-8 feet

Width: 3-5 feet

Exposure: Shade/Filtered sun

Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs