Painted Poinsettia Euphorbia cyathophora
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Euphorbia barbellata
- Euphorbia graminifolia
- Euphorbia heterophylla var. barbellata
- Euphorbia heterophylla var. cyathophora
- Euphorbia heterophylla var. graminifolia
- Poinsettia barbellata
- Poinsettia cyathophora
- Poinsettia graminifolia
- 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 (Euphorbiaceae) and a close cousin of our ever popular Poinsettia, Wild Poinsettia is a short-lived annual or biennial native to the central United States, Central America, 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 specific epithet, cyathophora, is from two Greek words meaning "cup-bearer." This refers to the cup-shaped base of the flowers. Many of its common names come from the upper leaves appearing to have been hand painted.
The wild poinsettia prefers full sun to partial shade and moist to dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils. It is tolerant of short dry periods and humid conditions. Pruning may be required to prevent it from becoming to weedy or competing with other plants. It may be propagated by seeds or cuttings. The seeds germinate in the spring and young plants develop very quickly.
The wild poinsettia plant can grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The stems are green and erect to ascending. 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 and stems produce a milky latex sap that is seen with they are damaged or broken. The leaves are green and vary in shape. Different shaped leaves can appear on a single plant. 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 flowers are present and 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.
The wild poinsettia could be used as a specimen, border, or ground cover plant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect pests or diseases. This plant can be weedy and spreads very aggressively.
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. Keep out of the reach of small children and pets. Wear protective gloves when handling this plant.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth 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
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central United States, Central America and South America
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MN, MS, MO, NE, NM, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WI; Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Introduced: United States--AL, CA, HI, KY, MD, NC, OH, and SC; Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, China, East Himalaya, Fiji, India, Mozambique, Palestine, Samoa, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, West Himalaya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- 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. Mourning doves feed on the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- No parts of the plant are edible. Poisonous.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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)
- 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
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a 3-lobed capsule that is 1/5 inch wide and has 3 inner compartments. Each compartment contains a single tiny egg-shaped seed. The fruit hangs down from a short stalk and will become erect as it matures. The seeds are oval and brownish black. Fruits are present from June to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Sitting at the tips of the branches are inconspicuous cluster greenish flowers that are grouped in a cyathia and form a cup-like structure with several tiny male flowers and one female flower. Leafy bracts are green with bright red bases and surround the flowers. Blooms from June to October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- 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 and are usually alternately arranged but sometimes opposite. They measure up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. The upper leaves are dark green, and the underside is a lighter green. While the underside may have a minimal amount of hairs, the upper leaf is smooth and hairless. The margins may be lobed or toothed.
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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 stems are smooth, green, and contain a milky sap. When the stem is damaged or broken, it exudes the milky sap. The lower branch is usually unbranched. If present, the side branches are often produced in pairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- 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
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
