Desert Poinsettia Euphorbia cyathophora
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Euphorbia barbellata
- Euphorbia cyathophora
- Euphorbia graminifolia
- Euphorbia havanensis
- Euphorbia heterophylla var. barbellata
- Euphorbia heterophylla var. cyathophora
- Euphorbia heterophylla var. graminifolia
- Poinsettia barbellata
- Poinsettia cyathophora
- Poinsettia graminifolia
- Poinsettia havanensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-uh sy-AY-tho-FOR-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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A member of the spurge family and a close cousin of our ever popular Poinsettia, Wild Poinsettia is a short-lived annual native to North and South America. Although it is cultivated for consumer use, it is considered a weed by many. Its natural habitat includes disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, creek banks and plantation cropland.
The inconspicuous flower cyathia (cup-like structure containing several flowers) sit at the tips of the branches on its own stalk. The cyathia cluster can have a diameter of 1.5 inches while individual cyathium (flowers that make up the cyathia) is less than 1/10 inch wide. Both male and female flowers are produced within each structure. Several are male, while only one female is present. There are also one or two kidney-shaped structures within the flower that contain nectar.
When mature, the seed capsules pop open to spread the seed.
Many of its common names come from the upper leaves appearing to have been hand painted. The leaves are opposite towards the plant base, alternate along the majority of the stem, and again opposite on the upper portion of the stems and branches. The leaves, as well as the stems, produce a milky latex sap when damaged or broken. The leaves vary in shape, different shaped leaves can appear on a single plant.
Many herbivores avoid this plant, as the milky sap can cause irritate the lining of their mouths and digestive tracts.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Can be weedy and high maintenance. All parts of the plant are poisonous when ingested, and the milky substance that is present when the leaves or stems are broken can cause skin irritation.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euphorbia
- Species:
- cyathophora
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical North America, Central America and South America
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, NE, NM, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI. It is probably introduced in NC
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees, butterflies and flies are attracted to the flowers. The flea beetle Glyptina cyanipennis and it is a larval host plant to Pygarctia spraguei moths.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- No parts of the plant are edible. Poisonous.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a 3-lobed capsule having 3 inner compartments. Each compartment contains a single tiny egg-shaped seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Sitting at the tips of the branches are inconspicuous greenish flowers. They are inconspicuous, cup-like structures with several tiny male flowers and one female flower.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves can be a showy fiddle-shaped, oval or egg-shaped. The upper leaves are dark green and usually red toward the base. The leaf underside is a lighter green. While the underside may have a minimal amount of hairs, the upper leaf is hairless.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The lower branch is usually unbranched. When damaged or broken, a milky sap is present. If present, the side branches are often produced in pairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- The milky white latex sap found in all plant parts can cause mild to severe contact dermatitis. If contact with the eyes occurs the sap can cause temporary to permanent damage to the cornea. If eaten, blistering can occur on lips and oral mucosa. Avoid ingesting plant parts and keep plants away from pets and children.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Diterpene esters in milky latex
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Stems
