A clumping succulent from the Chihuahuan Desert, made of slender, waxy gray-green stems that stand upright like a cluster of small candles. It has no spines, needs very little water and brings a clean vertical line to small gardens and planters.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide. Once established in the ground, it needs little or no extra water. Too much water makes the stems stretch and flop, which spoils its tidy upright look.
Pruning
Rarely needed. Cut dead stems out at the base, and wear gloves, since the sap irritates skin. Older clumps can be divided every few years if they outgrow their spot.
Soil
Good drainage matters more than anything else. Rocky, fast-draining soil keeps the roots healthy.
Pests
Generally trouble-free, with no common pest or disease problems.
How our designers use it
Vertical accent
Its upright stems add height and fine texture to small gravel gardens, narrow planters and wall beds where a spiny plant would be a problem.
Containers
It does well in pots on patios and in courtyards. Potted plants need more regular summer water than plants in the ground.
Contrast in a succulent bed
The thin gray-green stems play well against the bold shapes of barrels, agaves and aloes.
Good to know
Around the pool
With no spines and very little litter, it sits comfortably near pool decks, seating and walkways.
Sap
Like other euphorbias, broken stems leak a milky sap that can irritate skin and stain clothing. Wear gloves when handling or dividing it.
