Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Chocolate Drops
Chocolate Drops is a selection of the candelabra euphorbia, Euphorbia ingens, with four-angled green stems edged in oval spine shields that open pinkish-rose and age to chocolate brown. It grows tree-like over time and grows fairly fast. In the Valley it does best in a large patio pot or a sheltered bed with filtered sun.
Best for: large patio containers and sheltered, filtered-sun spots with room to grow up, away from kids and pets.
It is often grown in large containers for patios. Use fast-draining cactus mix and move the pot under cover on freeze nights.
The oval spine shields along each rib open pinkish-rose and turn chocolate brown with age, giving the plant its name.
In Phoenix it does best with part to filtered sun, protected from intense western summer sun, such as under a high canopy.
It is frost tender, grows tall over time, and its sap can cause blindness. Plant it away from paths, kids and pets, and cover it on freeze nights.
Water deeply, then let the soil dry out before the next watering. Water during the warm growing months, infrequently, and keep it nearly dry in winter. Soggy soil rots the roots.
In Phoenix it does best in part to filtered sun, with protection from intense western summer sun.
It is frost tender, hardy to about 28 to 30°F. Cover it with frost cloth to the ground on freeze nights, or move a pot under cover.
Every cut or broken stem bleeds milky sap that irritates skin and eyes. Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when you plant or trim it. Its sap is more toxic than most euphorbias, so eye protection matters.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Why is it called chocolate drops?
The oval spine shields along its stems open pinkish-rose and age to chocolate brown.
How big does it get?
The species grows 10 to 20 feet tall and wide in the ground here, and it grows fairly fast. A large pot keeps it smaller, so pick the spot or pot with that size in mind.
Is chocolate drops a cactus?
No. It is a euphorbia, a succulent related to poinsettias, even though it looks like a cactus. A broken stem bleeds milky sap, which cacti do not.
Is the sap dangerous?
Yes. The white sap of this species is especially toxic and can cause blindness if it gets in the eyes. Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection, and get medical care right away if sap gets in an eye.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Euphorbias are toxic to dogs and cats if chewed; the sap irritates the mouth and stomach and can cause vomiting. Plant it where pets cannot chew it.
How much sun does it need?
It does best in part sun or filtered sun. In Phoenix, plant it where a wall or high canopy shields it from intense western summer sun.
How often should I water it?
Water infrequently during the warm months when the soil is dry, and keep it nearly dry in winter. Soggy soil rots the roots.
How cold can it take?
It is frost tender, about 28 to 30°F. Cover it or move a pot under cover on freeze nights.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes. It is often grown in large containers on patios. Use fast-draining cactus mix and a pot with a drain hole.
Chocolate Drops for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Chocolate Drops is Euphorbia ingens 'Chocolate Drop', a candelabra euphorbia named for its brown spine shields. In the Valley it grows best in filtered sun, in a large pot or a sheltered bed. Below is what to expect on size, sun, water, cold and handling.
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What is Euphorbia ingens 'Chocolate Drop'?
It is a selection of the candelabra euphorbia with chocolate-brown spine shields along its four-angled stems.
Is chocolate drops a cactus?
No. It is a euphorbia, related to poinsettias. Cut stems bleed toxic milky sap.
Chocolate drops sun in Phoenix
Give it part to filtered sun and protect it from intense western summer sun.
Is chocolate drops frost hardy?
No. It is frost tender, about 28 to 30°F. Protect it on freeze nights.
Is Euphorbia ingens poisonous?
Yes. The white sap is extremely toxic and can cause blindness. Wear eye protection and gloves.
Chocolate drops in a pot
It grows well in a large patio container with fast-draining cactus mix.
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