Euphorbia trigona - African Milk Tree

Wow, it's huge!

Tasteyg:

Yes, this is a pretty large African Milk Tree. Typically they top out at 8 feet/ 2.5 meters tall...although I've seen some very old ones 13 feet tall/ 4 meters tall in the ground.

WOnder how they got the name? does it produce a milky fluid or something.

Lindak:

Yes, it does, when damaged...which is very commom for plants in the Euphorbiaceae family.

So is that an irritant to the skin then?

Lindak:

I think some species of Euphorbia are irritants to the skin and others are not.

Wonderful shape tall and slender.

Sixpence:

Yes, it is...I have one which is about 10 years old and is 6ft/2m tall.

Well done Andy do they take long to grow that tall.

Sixpence:

Mine is growing in the house (one of my few houseplants). It would be much larger if it was growing in the ground.

Bet it looks lovely indoors, funny how some plants grow better in pot than others.

Sixpence:

It actually grows better outdoors (more sun). However, it's one of the few plants which I can grow indoors without getting bugs.

That is a shame you can only grow a certain kind indoors.

Sixpence:

Yes, I get lots of spider mites on my plants indoors.

Can't you spray with soapy water like we do here for green fly.

Sixpence:

Unfortunately, it's always a loosing battle. :>(

What a shame Andy perhaps you might find other plants that don't attract the spider mites

Yes, most of the plants I use as houseplants are pretty
spider mite resistant.

Thats great then at least you can have some

I have trigona 'rubra'. They have taken all cold over the years...except for '98...when we had 28f or so for a few mornings. I started again a few years later,its about 5' in a big pot.
Funny thing about rubra,Andy?..its darker- almost black stemmed- in shade then in sun. I have had people tell me that's wrong..but I have the plant-lol. I know.

I've seen this plant grow in the Bay Area. It's does well. I do remember the cold of 98'' it wasn't horrible; however, it was cold enough to damage my very large Dypsis decaryi. I had it in a gigantic pot and gave it away when I moved here to San Diego.