Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Euphorbia poissonii
Poisson's Spurge
Euphorbia poissonii is a West African succulent that grows as a stand of thick, blunt-spined, grey-green columns, each topped through the wet season by a rosette of paddle-shaped leaves that is shed again as conditions dry. Dry gardens use it for exactly that candelabra effect.
It carries one of the most caustic latexes in a genus known for them, and that is a specification issue rather than a footnote. The sap is used traditionally as a fish poison, and contact with skin or eyes causes serious injury.
Specifications
- Height1 to 2 metres
- Width0.5 to 1 metre, spreading into clumps
- Native toWest Africa, principally Nigeria, Niger and Benin
- FoliagePaddle-shaped leaves at the stem tips through the wet season, shed as conditions dry; the spined stems are the permanent structure
- Growth rateSlow
Conditions
- SoilRequires sharply drained sandy or gravelly soil and will not tolerate wet ground
- LightFull sun
- WaterLow; drought-tolerant once established
- ClimateThrives in arid, semi-arid and hot seasonally dry regions
Additional Features
- FormClumping columns of blunt-spined grey-green stems, branching from the base
- UsesSculptural accent in gravel gardens, arid plant collections, raised beds and containers
- SpacingPlant 1 to 1.5 metres apart, and well back from paths and seating
- Low MaintenanceNo feeding or pruning is required; handle only with gloves and eye protection
- Pest ResistanceGenerally resistant, with rot following overwatering rather than any pest
- Drought ToleranceStores water in the stems and needs almost no irrigation once rooted
- ToxicityThe latex is severely caustic and causes serious skin and eye injury, so the species should not be used in public or unsupervised planting
Poisson's Spurge is a striking arid-collection succulent for controlled settings, and the handling risk belongs in the specification, not the small print.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 08 September 2026