Botanical Name: Euphorbia tirucalli
Common Name: Pencil tree, Pencil bush, Milk bush Type of Plant: dicot: tree Character evergreen Habit of Growth: Overall Shape an upright, single or multi-trunked plant, with distinctive thin, smooth, leafless, succulent branching pattern; forms dense rounded-oval canopy if unpruned; stems exude a milky acrid sap if cut Height 10' - 20' Spread 1/2 - equal Growth Rate slow Environment: Exposure outdoors full or partial sun (can be grown indoors as houseplant) Soil well-draining loam; avoid wet, poorly drained soils Hardiness some frost (zones 13, 23-24): prefers warm sunny coast Morphology: Leaves virtually none; tiny leaves fall off leaving the naked bluish-gray green pencil-thick stems Flowers inconspicuous; not horticulturally important Fruit inconspicuous; not horticulturally important Propagation: cuttings (allow to harden off before planting) Usage: a distinctive container plant or accent tree, valued for unusual silhouette and branching form; generally used as an interest plant Landscape Care: Watering an occasional deep soak; very drought-tolerant Fertilizing little required Pruning thin out the canopy occasionally for dramatic shape Pests/Diseases relatively free Special Conditions/Other avoid getting milky sap or mist of milky sap in eyes Origin: Madagascar Family: Euphorbiaceae Notes: |
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