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Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.

4.7 out of 5 (61 experiences)


About African Milk Tree
This plant grows tiny leaves that drop off once they mature. Plants in the Euphorbia genus have poisonous, milky, white, latex-like sap so be sure to keep them far from curious pets and children ⚠️ You may hear them referred to as cacti, but they're actually completely unrelated and belong to a group of plants known as spurges!
Taxonomy
Euphorbia trigona
Euphorbia
Euphorbiaceae
Malpighiales
Also known as
African Milk Tree and 'rubra'

How to care for African Milk Tree
How often to water your African Milk Tree

every 12
African Milk Tree needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12
Finding light for African Milk Tree in your home

a window
African Milk Tree love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
African Milk Tree does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of African Milk Tree in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize African Milk Tree

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your African Milk Tree after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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The plant has grown but the amount of water hasn’t changed. Should Fernie receive more water? #Euphorbia
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Why does my Euphorbia have dark spots? Answer why does it not have any leave? Thanks #Euphorbia
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Sunburn? Could this be caused by sunburn? I just have it for a week now. On the other side of the plant I don’t see those spots. Will they go away over time? #Euphorbia #SucculentSquad #CactusClique
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Hi! I have had this plant for years and I noticed it’s looking a bit whiter than usual what should I do? #Euphorbia
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What can I use to fertilize this big guy. He is looking slightly puney lately! #Euphorbia
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Forced repotting of Richard, my African Milk Bush. Here’s him as a baby, too #repotting #brokenpot #SucculentSquad
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Starting to look light green and yellow/ brown in other areas. Some areas towards the 3/4 on up height are not plump in the center and feel possibly not getting enough water? I don't water them religiously because they grow so well. Maybe that's why #Euphorbia
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what’s happening with my tiny euphorbia trigona 😳 albert was otherwise thriving lately with visible growth and new big green leaves after stagnating for idk how long. but yesterday i noticed these large weird yellowing on the middle of his stem! it started as one small spot near the soil line, but boom suddenly it went big like this out of nowhere. it’s kinda translucent but not mushy nor smelly. and the yellowing doesn’t start from the bottom, it’s completely in the middle… i water him only when the soil is dry. he gets bright direct sunlight almost all day, everyday. what is happening, really? 😳
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I love Nithin. He is about four to six years old. Look at the funny new trees he is growing out his head #Euphorbia #AfricanMilkTree #AfricanMilkBush
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Why isn’t she sprouting??? #Euphorbia
Care Summary for African Milk Tree
African Milk Tree
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say











Beautiful plant that grows fast and easy to take care of with little maintenance. Perfect for an outdoor patio/balcony area with just enough sun to soak in. Mine has grown these amazing red leaves that have surprisingly stayed on throughout the colder months.
I would be a little cautious when handling it because aside from the pointy thorns on it, pricking yourself or getting it’s sap on you can cause annoying itchiness and discomfort. Please make sure to keep this away from pets or small children. If you practice care with this plant, it will certainly reward you with lots of growth and love.









I have had this old man ever since he was an inch tall he has grown to be almost 3 feet I’ve had him for many years. This guy is a great cactus and I love him to pieces. Easy to grow I put him outside in the summer make sure he’s got some shade on him because the sun is too hot here. I recommend one to y’a.






These cacti are great! They don’t need watering too frequently and are very tough plants. I will say that from experience these plants grow better in a relatively dry, room temperature place, and only need watering about once every 2-3 weeks depending on the temperature. These plants can grow very tall too, and they’re beautiful! Would definitely recommend for someone who’s new with plants!



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Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.