An East African succulent that looks like a tangle of green pencils, popular as a sculptural houseplant despite its highly irritating milky sap.
Description
Pencil cactus is actually a spurge, not a cactus. It grows as a forest of slim green branching cylindrical stems that look like pencils stacked on a desk. Tiny leaves drop quickly.
Cultivation
It thrives in bright sun, gritty mix, and infrequent watering. Pruning releases a copious milky latex that burns skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Always wear gloves and goggles.
Uses
Used as a hedge plant in arid African villages, pencil cactus is also a modern statement houseplant. The cultivar Firesticks turns brilliant red-orange in cool bright conditions.
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Pencil Cactus starts with P and ends with S. Browse other plants along the same letter.
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