Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Euphorbia royleana
Euphorbia royleana gives a Valley yard a tall, sculptural shape on little water. Upright, ribbed green columns branch into a candelabra that can reach 6 to 12 feet tall. In the warm months small spoon-shaped leaves crown the branch tips. Plant it as a focal accent in a succulent bed, against a wall, or in a large patio pot.
Best for: A tall sculptural accent in a succulent bed, a vertical shape against a wall, or a big pot on a patio.
Upright, ribbed green columns branch into a candelabra 6 to 12 feet tall over time. Set it where it can stand alone as the tall centerpiece of a succulent or gravel bed.
Its tall, narrow columns give a strong vertical shape against a plain wall. Along a wall, plan on about 4 to 6 feet of width for the plant.
It grows well in a large container on a patio. Use a fast-draining potting mix, and water and feed it more often in a pot during warm weather.
It takes about 25°F, so cover it on the coldest nights, and cold, wet soil is hard on it. Short paired spines line the ribs. The milky sap irritates skin and eyes, so keep it back from play areas.
Plant it into dry soil and wait about 1 to 2 weeks before the first watering in warm weather, or up to a month in cool weather.
It handles drought, but water in spring and summer keeps it growing and keeps its leaves on. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Too much water rots the roots.
Cut back watering in fall and keep it much drier in winter. It takes cold best when the soil is dry. Its leaves can drop in cold or very hot, dry spells.
It takes full sun, but light afternoon shade can make it look better. Filtered shade under a tree also works. A new plant can sunburn its first summer, so light shade cloth helps.
It is rated to about 25°F. On frost nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet all the way to the ground, not plastic, and uncover it in the morning.
It does not need regular pruning. The milky sap irritates skin and eyes, so wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when you plant or cut it.
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.
How big does Euphorbia royleana get?
It can reach about 6 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide. In Tucson-area gardens it often stays more shrub-sized.
How fast does Euphorbia royleana grow?
It grows at a moderate pace in Valley yards. Water in spring and summer keeps it growing.
Is Euphorbia royleana a cactus?
No. It is a euphorbia, a succulent that looks like a cactus but is not related. Break a stem and a euphorbia bleeds milky white sap, which cactus do not.
Is the sap dangerous?
Yes. The milky sap is toxic and irritates skin and eyes. In the eyes it can cause a serious injury that needs a doctor. Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection, and keep kids and pets away.
Is Euphorbia royleana toxic to dogs and cats?
Yes. It is toxic to dogs and cats if eaten, and the sap can blister the lips and mouth. Keep pets from chewing it.
Does Euphorbia royleana have spines?
Yes. Short spines grow in pairs along the ribs of the stems. They are small, but they still prick, so handle it with gloves.
How cold can Euphorbia royleana take?
It is hardy to about 25 to 30°F. Cover it on the coldest nights. It takes cold best when the soil is dry.
Does Euphorbia royleana need full sun?
It grows in full sun to part shade. It takes full sun, but light afternoon shade can keep it looking its best.
How often should I water Euphorbia royleana?
It handles drought, but it likes water in spring and summer, and that water keeps its leaves on. Let the soil dry between waterings and water much less in the cool months.
Why is my Euphorbia royleana dropping its leaves?
The leaves come and go with the seasons. They grow in warm, moist months and drop during hot, dry spells and in cold weather. The green stems stay put, and new leaves return when conditions improve.
Does Euphorbia royleana flower?
Yes, but the flowers are small. Clusters of small yellow to greenish-yellow flowers appear along the branches in summer.
Can Euphorbia royleana grow in a pot?
Yes. It adapts well to a large container. Use a fast-draining potting mix and a pot with a drainage hole, and water more often in a pot.
Euphorbia royleana for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Euphorbia royleana is a branching, cactus-like succulent from the Himalayas. Its ribbed green columns grow into a tall candelabra shape, about 6 to 12 feet tall over time. In the warm months small spoon-shaped leaves crown the branch tips. Below is what to expect on size, sun, water, cold and pots in a Valley yard.
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Euphorbia royleana in Phoenix yards
Euphorbia royleana is a branching, cactus-like succulent from the Himalayas. Its ribbed green columns grow into a candelabra shape. Valley homeowners use it as a tall accent in succulent beds, against walls and in big pots.
How big does Euphorbia royleana get?
Over time it can reach about 6 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide. It grows at a moderate pace, faster with water in spring and summer. In Tucson-area gardens it often stays shrub-sized.
Is Euphorbia royleana a cactus?
No. It is a euphorbia that looks like a cactus. The stems carry short paired spines along the ribs, and a broken stem bleeds milky white sap. True cactus do not have milky sap.
How cold can Euphorbia royleana get in Arizona?
It is hardy to about 25 to 30°F. Cover it on the coldest nights. Dry soil in winter helps it get through cold snaps.
How to water Euphorbia royleana in the Valley
It handles drought, but water in spring and summer keeps it growing and in leaf. Let the soil dry between waterings. Water much less in the cool months.
Why is my Euphorbia royleana losing leaves?
Its small spoon-shaped leaves grow in warm, moist months. They drop in hot, dry spells and in cold weather, and the green stems carry on. Regular warm-season water keeps the leaves on longer.
Growing Euphorbia royleana in a pot
It adapts well to a large container on a patio. Use a fast-draining potting mix and a pot with a drainage hole. In a pot it needs water and feeding more often during warm weather.
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