Scientific: Euphorbia tirucalli 'Rosea' (Synonym: Euphorbia rhipsaloides, Euphorbia viminalis, Tithymalus tirucalli)
Common: Fire sticks, sticks of fire, sticks on fire
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Origin: Euphorbia tirucalli is native to South Africa, though it has naturalized throughout Africa. Also it has naturalized in southwest Florida.

Hardiness zones
Sunset 13-24
USDA 9-11

Landscape Use: Strong accent subshrub for xeric landscapes, container plant.

Form & Character: Evergreen rounded and upright, colorful, unique, dry.

Growth Habit: Slow to eventually 4 to 5' in height with somewhat lesser spread. Stems of cultivar 'Rosea' lack chlorophyll thus growth rate is much slowed.

Foliage/Texture: Leaves produces on juvenile plants at the stem apecies and are ephemeral, stems of 'Rosea' are colored (orange and red), generally leafless, stems contain white latex is toxic and can cause dermal rashes and blistering, oral ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; fine texture

Flowers & Fruits: Insignificant

Seasonal Color: None

Temperature: Tolerant of desert heat, 'Rosea' is cold hardy to 30^o while the species is hardy to 25^o.

Light: Full sun, shade reduces foliar color.

Soil: Tolerant

Watering: Water sparingly

Pruning: Little to none

Propagation: Stems cuttings propagate easily

Disease and pests: None

Additional comments: Fire sticks is a cultivar named 'Rosea' of the normally very large (20 to 30' in height) pencil cactus (P. tirucalli). It is a visually stunning plant that enlivens most any garden or landscape setting especially during winter when the stem color is most intense. The latex from the stems can be processed into a low grade rubber.