African milk tree
Also called Cathedral cactus, Friendship cactus.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 16 days in the growing season, every 45 in winter |
| Pets | Cats not known, dogs not known |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, no entry for Euphorbia trigona.
Not a cactus, though everything about it says cactus: a three or four sided green column, ridged and paired with short spines, growing steadily upward and branching into something that does look faintly like a cathedral. It carries small real leaves along the ridges through the growing season and drops them in autumn, which alarms people the first time. The thing that matters is the sap. Every euphorbia bleeds a white latex when cut, and this one’s is a serious irritant that will burn skin and do real damage in an eye. Wear gloves, keep it away from your face, and wash any cut surface off. Beyond that it is an easy, fast, forgiving plant.
Ailments observed
| A soft or mushy base to the stem | Water in the cold months, which is the usual end of a euphorbia. Keep it dry from autumn to spring. If the base has gone, cut a firm section, let the cut seal for a week and root it dry. |
|---|---|
| Leaves falling off | The small leaves along the ridges dropping in autumn, which is normal. Nothing to do. They come back in spring. If it happens in midsummer, check the light and the watering. |
Filed underPlants that forgive a beginner, Succulents and cacti, Statement plants
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