Intermediate
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' (Candelabra cactus 'Cristata')
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.9m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata'
Other names
Candelabra cactus 'Cristata', Crested candelabra cactus, Dragon's bones 'Cristata', Mottled spurge 'Cristata', Candelabrum spurge 'Cristata', False cactus 'Cristata', Crested elkhorn, Euphorbia lactea f. cristata
Genus
Euphorbia Euphorbia
Variety or Cultivar
'Cristata' _ 'Cristata' is a variable, tender shrub, usually with a succulent, triangular, spiny, often patterned, mid- to dark green stem bearing fan-shaped, undulating, sometimes purple-flushed, mid- to grey-green branch.
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' is: Evergreen
Habit
Erect
Toxicity
Sap causes severe skin irritation & severe eye pain, including temporary blindness that can last several days. All parts are highly toxic, possibly fatal, if ingested.
Flower
Insignificant or absent in Summer
Foliage
Flushed purple, Striped, Grey-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Mealybugs Mealybugs
Grey mould Grey mould
General care
Pruning
No pruning required.
Propagation
Sow seed as soon as ripe at 15-20C.
Propagation methods
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Stem tip cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' (Candelabra cactus 'Cristata') will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.6m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Greenhouse, Indoor, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in 3 parts loam-based compost, 1 part grit in full light. Ventilate well. In growth, water sparingly & apply low-nitrogen liquid feed monthly; keep dry in winter. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil in full sun. This plant is created by grafting Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' to a Euphorbia neriifolia base.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata'
Other names
Candelabra cactus 'Cristata', Crested candelabra cactus, Dragon's bones 'Cristata', Mottled spurge 'Cristata', Candelabrum spurge 'Cristata', False cactus 'Cristata', Crested elkhorn, Euphorbia lactea f. cristata
Genus
Euphorbia Euphorbia
Variety or Cultivar
'Cristata' _ 'Cristata' is a variable, tender shrub, usually with a succulent, triangular, spiny, often patterned, mid- to dark green stem bearing fan-shaped, undulating, sometimes purple-flushed, mid- to grey-green branch.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Erect
Toxicity
Sap causes severe skin irritation & severe eye pain, including temporary blindness that can last several days. All parts are highly toxic, possibly fatal, if ingested.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Insignificant or absent in Summer
Foliage
Flushed purple, Striped, Grey-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
No pruning required.
Propagation
Sow seed as soon as ripe at 15-20C.
Propagation methods
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Stem tip cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' (Candelabra cactus 'Cristata') will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.6m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Greenhouse, Indoor, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in 3 parts loam-based compost, 1 part grit in full light. Ventilate well. In growth, water sparingly & apply low-nitrogen liquid feed monthly; keep dry in winter. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil in full sun. This plant is created by grafting Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' to a Euphorbia neriifolia base.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login