Photographs are of our actual stock, taken at the nursery. Plants are living things — expect small differences in shape and leaf count from the plant shown.
Succulents & Cacti
Pencil Cactus
Euphorbia tirucalli
Pencil cactus is a euphorbia, not a cactus, and it grows as a dense mass of smooth, cylindrical green stems with no meaningful leaves. In strong sun the tips flush coral-orange, which is where the ‘Firesticks’ trade name comes from.
The milky sap is genuinely caustic — it burns skin and does serious damage to eyes. Wear gloves and eye protection when pruning, and wash immediately if you get sap on you. Handled sensibly it is one of the toughest and most sculptural plants you can grow.
- Tips flush coral-orange in strong sun
- Extremely drought and heat tolerant
- Caustic sap — always prune with gloves and eye protection
Rs 1,500for the 12 inch pot
Inclusive of pot and mix. Delivery Rs 350, free over Rs 5,000.
1
4.6(30 reviews) In stock, dispatched in 1–2 working days
Packed by hand
Dispatched in 1–2 working days
7-day guarantee
Replaced or refunded if damaged
Grown by us
Never bought in and resold
At a glance
- Mature size
- 1–3 m outdoors
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Difficulty
- Easy to keep
- Around pets
- Keep away from cats, dogs and small children
Full sunTerraceRooftopGarden
How to look after your Pencil Cactus
Written for Pakistani conditions — long hot summers, dry winter air, and hard tap water. Follow this rather than advice written for a temperate climate.
- Light
- Bright light with some direct sun. Most colour up beautifully with four hours of morning sun.
- Water
- Every 2–3 weeks in summer, monthly in winter. Water into the soil, not over the rosette.
- Humidity
- Low. Dry air is fine.
- Soil
- Gritty, mineral-heavy mix with sharp drainage.
- Feeding
- A weak feed twice during the growing season.
- Temperature
- 10–42°C. Most are hardy to brief cold but not to frost.
If something goes wrong
Rosette rotting from the centre
Why it happens: Water collecting in the crown.
What to do: Always water at soil level, and increase airflow.
Leaves losing colour, turning plain green
Why it happens: Not enough light.
What to do: Move into brighter conditions gradually to avoid scorching.
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