SucculentsFiresticks Pencil Cactus
Euphorbia tirucalli
Firesticks Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) is a slow-growing succulent, hardy in USDA zones 11-12, that matures to about 20-30 ft × 6-10 ft. It does best in full sun with low water needs in well-drained and occasionally-wet soil. Expect yellow blooms in spring and summer. It stands up well to deer, drought and dry soil.
- USDA zones
- 11-12
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 20-30 ft × 6-10 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Occasionally-wet
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Tough against
- Deer, Drought, Dry soil, Rabbits
- Native to
- Tropical and southern Africa east to Indonesia
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Firesticks Pencil Cactus is hardy to about 40°F (estimated from USDA zone 11), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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