Mottled Spurge
Euphorbia lactea

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

Euphorbia lactea is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 5

Where it is found

Adapted to dry regions. Many tropical and sub-tropical areas world wide. Widely escaped from cultivation and in many places forming dense thickets.

Grows wild, in tropical Asia. Widely cultivated in west Indies, Florida and in many tropical areas world wide.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

All parts are poisonous: ingestion, dermatitis, or severe eye irritant. Symptoms include: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea when ingested; redness, swelling, blisters after some delay following contact with skin.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Carbon Farming Solutions - Agroforestry Services: living fence (Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland). Pot plant. Indoor plant. A good specimen, hedge or container plant.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: tropical. Humidity: arid to humid. Prefers areas of full sunlight and dry soil to moist well drained soil. Cannot tolerant wet soil. Full sun to part shade. Intolerant of frost. Hardy to hardy to 5°C. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: coppice (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Euphorbia cuttings in Spring/Summer

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 10-11

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature. Sharp spines.

Its other names

Local names

Candle-stick tree, False cactus, Mottled candle stick tree, African milk plant, Elkhorn, Frilled fan, Milkstripe euphorbia, Mottled candlestick, Milk striped euphorbia, Hat-rack-cactus, Hatrack cactus, Dragon bones, Candelabra spurge, Dragoon bones tree, Candelabra Cactus, Cactus Candelabre, Caper Spurge, Mottled spurge, Coral Cactus, Euphorbe lactée, Pokok sesudu, ??????? ????????, Lechero de lindero, Escambrón, Candelero, Cardon, Moteado, Marmoreuforbia

Synonyms

Euphorbia lactea Roxb. [Illegitimate]