Euphorbia tirucalli

Cactus - Pencil

                                          ID#580

 
 

Additional Information: Cutting from her plant, present from Happy Williams.

Oriental, NC

 

Euphorbia tirucalli is indigenous to tropical eastern and southern Africa.

Pencil cactus grows with single or multiple trunks which support a tangle of light green, pencil thick, succulent branches with little sign of a leaf. Pencil tree can reach a height of 20-30ft (6-9m) with a 6-10ft (2-3m) spread.

Pencil tree is highly salt tolerant and is often grown in gardens near the beach. However, it does not tolerate freezing temperatures.

HEIGHT X SPREAD: 20-30 ft x 6-10 ft PLANT TYPE: Succulent Tree- Evergreen Does not tolerate freezing temperatures. GROWTH RATE: Moderate TEXTURE: bold, fine leaves LIGHT: bright light or sun. WATER: water only when dry. Highly drought tolerant SOIL: average, well drain
As observed in Coastal NC. BLOOMS: What is usually called the flower is really a group of petal-like bracts (modified leaves). The true flowers, which are centered within the bracts, are inconspicuous. FRUIT AND SEED: Pencil tree is best propagated by cuttings, which must be dried sufficiently to seal in the milky sap before inserting into potting medium. KEY FEATURES: structure, easy to grow, good indoor plant.
A year cycle in the life of ...... at Mooring Hitch Placed cutting to dry in a table to form a callus for 2 days. -Potted in 1/2 compost, 1/2 coarse gravel. -Water only when dry. -Place in full sun. Leaves will start to grow once it establish roots. First plant lost during hurricane, my friend Happy replaced it with a rooted cutting Fall 2011 and it is growing fast and well. Emerging time, Fertilization, Pruning, Thinning, Seed Collecting, Cutting, Roots, Division,.......
          Mooring Hitch Gardens       
 

June 2012

June 2012

Cutting before planting

Leaf sample

Second rooted cutting - Fall 2011