30 responses

1. Hi Annet

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Euphorbia tirucalli responds well to pruning to allow for a more bushy growth form.

   Depending on the variety, they tend to develop more orange growth in the winter months in summer rainfall areas, provided they are in a position that receives full sun throughout the day.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

2. My plant is green with a little orange and it grows upwards. Can I prune the top part to make it more bushy? What can I do to make the orange color more noticeable?

3. Hi Zodwa

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Euphorbia tirucalli grows easily from cuttings. You can simply place the cut piece in the soil 20-30cm deep and it will develop roots from there.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

4. I had one Firestick in my yard ,yesterday I cam from work was broken ,I’m staying in rural areas near Amanzimtoti ,I like that tree but now is broken ,can I cultivate it again or theres nothing I can do with it now

5. Hi

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   The root system of Euphorbia tirucalli is generally not considered aggressive. Could you possibly have a large tree close by that is causing the issue?

   Flourish!
   Glenice

6. Hi can you tell me about the root system of these. We are having trouble with our water pipes making noises and I am worried they have grown into the pipes. They are planted about 2 metres from the house.

7. Hi Stephanie

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Euphorbia tirucalli are indeed poisonous but we’ve found that some animals are not affected by it.

   From what you’re describing, there could be porcupines visiting your property at night as they are know to strip the bark of Euphorbia tirucalli.

   You may also notice some bulbs being dug up in your garden as they also tend to favour bulbous plants. Living in close proximity to a nature conservation area adds another dimension to challenge gardeners.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

8. Hi,
   I had a firestick plant. I live in Bassonia and have a nature conservation park behind us. Something came through into our garden and over a couple of evenings ate the bark off the firestick tree during the winter months. I could hear the noise of something eating, as it is just outside my bedroom window but was never in time to see what it was. I thought it might be rats but recently I noticed a hedgehog visiting my garden. Could it be the hedgehog? The tree has subsequently died. I was just interested in knowing what animal would eat the bark of this poisonous tree and still come back a couple of nights for more?

9. Hi Linda

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Euphorbia tirucalli contains a toxic milky sap that is released when the plant is cut or broken. The sap can cause irritations to both humans and animals who come into contact with it.

   It is best not to plant them in areas that have high traffic of humans and animals as one can accidentally bump into the plant.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

10. Good morning

    Are Fire Sticks toxic to pets. A lot have been planted in our comunal garden in our complex. They are beautiful but…..
    Many thanks.
    Linda Munton

11. Hi Sue

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook and sorry to hear about your frost-affected plant.

    Euphorbia tirucalli is susceptible to frost. Leave the damaged branches on the plant until spring when you can trim off the dead parts. If your plant is sufficiently rooted it should recover in warmer weather. Avoid watering between 15h00 and 09h00 to minimise frost damage and perhaps consider using a frost protection covering next winter.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

12. Hi, new to Howick KZN, I was saddened when my Firesticks planted in exposed rockery were horrible frost bitten. Will they recover and must I cut off dead part?
    Thanks, Sue

13. Hi Penny

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook and apologies for the delayed response.

    It is likely that your Euphorbia tirucalli are not receiving the same amount of sunshine in their new location as they tend to have the strongest colour change when exposed to full-sun throughout the day. As they are growing in planters, you may also need to refresh the soil as the growing medium may be deplete of the minerals needed to trigger the seasonal stem colour variation.

    Regarding their growth rate, they may be slower for you because they are growing outside their natural geographic range. In summer rainfall regions, they tend to be fast-growing.

    We’ve found that cultivars of several species (e.g. Plectranthus aliciae, Crassula ‘Campfire’) often loose their characteristic colouration which could possibly be the case with the cuttings you received from a friend.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

14. Somebody asked if Euphorbia tirucalli is a problem plant. It is an invasive species in some parts of the world – https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/21381 – mainly tropical regions. There is no mention of it being a problem paint in South Africa. I have a couple in quite big pots that are at least 6 years old and less than 1 m tall. I also planted a couple in the garden about a year ago and they are growing very slowly! I am on the coast in Pringle Bay near Somerset West. Regarding the query about Firestick (Firesticks – Sticks on Fire) being a cultivar is interesting. My two potted plants change colour! Right now they are more yellow-green than red, but in our previous garden they were very red. We thought at first it was the shock of moving them. And unfortunately I have no recollection of the name – or even where I bought them. Probably Stodels. The ones I have planted in the garden are green and show no inclination towards red! These are cuttings from a landscaper friend.

15. Hi David

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Euphorbia tirucalli is naturally found in many regions of South Africa and as far as I’m aware, has not been identified as a problem plant. However, it seems like your question may be regarding a specific geographic location so you may need to do a more specific site survey to see whether it is appropriate and will not compete with existing vegetation if introduced.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

16. Is Euphorbia tirucalli naturally found in South Africa?
    Is it a problem plant that would need to be eradicated or would in be permitted in conservation areas or wildlife reserves in the garden? Specifically, from a government perspective, is it a plant that would need to be eradicated as a problem plant?

17. Hi Caroline

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Based on our observations in Gauteng, we’ve found that the succulents with varying tones like Euphorbia tirucalli tend to have more dramatic changes in colour when they are watered less.

    The colour change is most dramatic in winter when there’s little or no rainfall in the Highveld. Indigenous plants tend to thrive best in a garden setting when the watering conditions match their natural environment.

    I’m not sure that iron will help. It’s normally used to encourage greener foliage. Try reducing your watering, particularly in winter.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

18. Is there any way to increase the red/pink color of euphorbia tirucalli, perhaps by adding iron?

19. Hi Sarah

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Wow, that must be an awesome specimen. Please send us a picture if possible.

    It’s always difficult to predict how a plant reacts to a severe hacking, but as the Euphorbia tirucalli is highly resilient, it tends to recover from even a harsh pruning. The root system is generally non-aggressive, depending on the growing conditions, so is unlikely to cause damage to the driveway.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

20. Hi! I have a giant 80 year old Euphorbia tirucalli tree with an enormous trunk. The greenery was recently hacked up by my neighbor because it was overhanging their property.

    The tree is right next to their driveway. I’m concerned because of so much cutting of the greenery that the root system might suddenly grow wildly and do damage to their driveway.

    What is the root system of this tree like, when it gets to be a giant tree and is cut back tremendously all at once? Are the roots invasive and large, or is it (hopefully) more of a taproot system?

    The trunk is probably 2 feet wide, so we are talking a BIG tree, about 20 feet high.

21. Hi Yvonne

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    I would definitely avoid planting this in a school garden. Your sources are correct. The milky latex can cause skin irritations and vision disturbances.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

22. I have been told that the juice of this plant causes skin to burn, blindness and that if swallowed can cause damage that cannot be medicated. Is this true? Is it safe to be planted in a school garden?

23. Hi Jade

    As far as I’m aware, the root system isn’t invasive. However, I’d recommend planting them at least 50cm from the wall to avoid excessive pressure against the wall.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

24. Hi, I am thinking of planting a series of fire sticks against our boundary wall. We are on a hill so the other side of the wall is substantially lower than inside the wall as a result I need to be careful about invasive root systems. Does the fire stick plant have invasive root systems?

25. Hi Tobie

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Yes, they can be trimmed into a ‘hedge’. Please wear protective clothing and eyewear when handling it as the milky latex is toxic and tends to splash out when the plant is cut back. If it gets into your eyes, it can cause temporary blindness. Contact with skin also burns.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

26. I have four that is about 1 meter high. Can it been cut back and I want it to cover a wall that does not look good. Thanks

27. Hi Melissa

    They can safely be planted 1.5m from the wall without affecting the structure.

    Because of the toxic nature of the plants, avoid planting them in areas accessible to children.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

28. I have two Euphorbia Tiriculli plants that I would like to plant next to a perimeter wall in a complex. They are medium in size. My question is this: how aggressive are the root systems and would it affect the wall in time? If so, how far away from the walls should they be planted? We live in Pretoria East with the plants to be planted in a sunny, rocky part of the garden. Thanking you in advance.

29. Hi Craig
    You raise a valid point.
    The Euphorbia tirucalli plants found in the KZN area are probably a cultivar since the plant is not naturally found in this region. The plants found growing in the wild prefer a hotter and less humid climate, particularly in the Limpopo Province and southern areas of Zimbabwe. Most purists will not accept a cultivar as “indigenous”. Cultivars, however, have been specially bred, with improvements so that they can tolerate various climatic conditions, hence its occurrence and use in so many KZN gardens. So, if you’re creating an endemic, indigenous garden in KZN, this plant does not check all the boxes.

30. There has recently been concern raised over the origin of this species, stating that the Firestick is a cultivar and therefore cannot be planted in an endemic, indigenous garden in KZN, South Africa. Is this correct?