Plant guide
Pencil cactus
Euphorbia tirucalli
Pencil cactus has irritating milky sap that can harm a cat’s mouth and stomach and may cause vomiting. Keep broken stems and prunings out of reach, and contact your veterinarian after chewing or sap exposure.
What this guide covers: Euphorbia tirucalli only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
Photo:
Photo details
Euphorbia tirucalli — Euphorbia tirucalli or pencil tree, houseplant
By Cindy Christian
License: CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Plant shopping
Explore this plant
Photo:
Photo details
Euphorbia tirucalli — Euphorbia tirucalli or pencil tree, houseplant
By Cindy Christian
License: CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Pencil cactus plant
View on Amazon — pencil cactus plant; paid link; opens in a new tabPaid link · Opens in a new tab
Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
Explore non-toxic plants →A little paw-note: We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. This helps us keep building and helps Nico & Larry sustain their lavish kitty lifestyle.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Look for Euphorbia tirucalli and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Euphorbia tirucalli
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
Find the right spot
How to grow this plant
Euphorbia tirucalli only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
- Light
- Sunny position
Bright light, including sun; protect from the harshest afternoon exposure.
- Watering
Let soil dry between waterings.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Protect from frost; day/night examples are not a single preferred range.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- A gritty, well-drained succulent mix.
- Through the year
- Wear gloves when handling damaged stems and avoid sap contact. Keep all cuttings inaccessible to pets.
Growing-guide sources
- Euphorbia tirucalli ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Euphorbia tirucalli only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-16. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.