A leafless succulent shrub from Africa made of countless pencil-thin green stems. The ‘Fire Sticks’ form turns coral and red-orange in cool weather. It thrives on very little water and adds bold, fine-textured form to modern desert gardens and large pots.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide. Water sparingly and only as needed. Extra water pushes soft, floppy growth, and soggy soil causes root rot, which is its main problem.
Pruning
It rarely needs it. If a stem must come out, do it in late spring, and wear gloves and eye protection. Rinse tools afterward, since the sap is sticky and caustic.
Cold
Cover it on freezing nights. Plants in pots can be moved under a patio cover.
How our designers use it
Container specimen
It makes a striking pot plant on a patio or courtyard, where it can be moved for frost and kept to a set size.
Modern texture
The dense, upright stems give fine texture next to bold agaves and smooth stucco walls.
Winter color
‘Fire Sticks’ brings warm coral and orange tones in the months when most of the garden is green.
Good to know
Sap
The milky sap can blister skin and cause severe eye injury. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling it, and keep it out of reach of children.
Pets
The ASPCA lists pencil cactus as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The sap irritates the mouth and stomach.
Around the pool
Stems that snap off leak sap, so we place it away from pool decks, seating and paths where people brush past.
