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Euphorbia lactea - Haw.

Common Name Mottled Spurge
Family Euphorbiaceae
USDA hardiness 10-11
Known Hazards 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[200]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[214]. Sharp spines.
Habitats Adapted to dry regions. Many tropical and sub-tropical areas world wide. Widely escaped from cultivation and in many places forming dense thickets.
Range Grows wild, in tropical Asia. Widely cultivated in west Indies, Florida and in many tropical areas world wide.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Euphorbia lactea Mottled Spurge


Frank Vincentz on Wikimedia.org
Euphorbia lactea Mottled Spurge
Frank Vincentz on Wikimedia.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Euphorbia lactea Roxb. [Illegitimate]

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

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.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None Known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

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.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Management: Coppice  Minor Global Crop

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) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

  • 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.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Euphorbia cuttings in Spring/Summer

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

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123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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