Temperature
60–85°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
African milk tree
Euphorbia trigona
African milk tree wants direct light and water every 14 to 28 days, once the soil is dry all the way through. Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
Light
Direct
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
A south or west window within two feet of the glass. It leans hard toward the light and needs turning monthly.
Water
Every 14–28 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the soil is dry all the way through, not on a schedule.
Humidity
20% and up
Fine in normal household air. Prefers 40%.
Difficulty
Easy
Scores 2 of 5: Scores 2 of 5: nearly unkillable in a sunny window. Loses points for the caustic white latex, which needs gloves and eye care when cutting.
Habit
Upright
Grows to 24–96 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — poison severity medium
Contains diterpene esters in the latex. Reported signs include skin irritation, severe eye irritation, vomiting.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says
- ASPCA
- No record page found under any name tested.
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Medium · diterpenoid euphorbol esters
DISPLAY — in-content responsive
Light
Direct light. A south or west window within two feet of the glass. It leans hard toward the light and needs turning monthly.
Water
Every 14 to 28 days in a 6-inch pot, when the soil is dry all the way through.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | soak and dry |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the soil is dry all the way through |
Soil and potting
Two parts cactus mix, one part perlite.
Repot roughly every 3 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. The individual diagnosis pages are not built yet.
- Root rot page not written yet
- Leggy growth page not written yet
- Leaf drop page not written yet
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-11.
Propagation
Stem cutting in soil. Roots in 21 to 42 days.
| Preferred method | stem cutting |
|---|---|
| Medium | soil |
| Time to root | 21–42 days |
| Node required | No |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Euphorbia trigona Checked 2026-09-11.
- Wikidata entity Q1257890 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Euphorbia trigona Accepted name; family Euphorbiaceae. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Euphorbia trigona Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Photograph: Frank Vincentz, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02