Cowboy Cactus

Cowboy Cactus (Euphorbia acrurensis) gives you the tall, ribbed, candelabra outline of a desert cactus in a plant that is far easier to keep alive. It reaches about 3m tall and only 1m wide, so it holds a strong vertical line in a courtyard or a large pot without taking over the bed. It is not a true cactus but an African succulent euphorbia, and the milky sap is a serious irritant.

Why you'll love it

• Height in a narrow footprint. Three metres of structure in a metre of width, without stealing floor space.
• It wants to be left alone. Drought and heat tolerant, and happy in sand, gravel or thin rocky ground, so the usual way to lose one is too much water.
• Architectural all year. No flowering season to wait for and nothing to drop.
• A long term pot plant. Slow growth and a modest root system keep it in one container for years.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Use one as a full stop at the end of a gravel bed or against a rendered wall, where the shadow of the ribs is part of the effect.

Pots and courtyards. A heavy pot of at least 400mm of free draining cactus and succulent mix is the safest way to grow it outside its warm climate range.

Rockeries and dry gardens. Pair it with agave, aloe and gravel mulch, allowing a metre of clear width per plant.

Handling and safety

The milky white sap is a strong skin and eye irritant and is toxic if swallowed, so it is not safe around pets or a garden where a toddler explores. Wear gloves and eye protection to plant, move or cut it, and wash exposed skin straight away.

Growing Cowboy Cactus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the hotter the better. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid or semi arid gardens, so Queensland, the Northern Territory, inland New South Wales, Perth and drier parts of South Australia can grow it in the ground. It is frost tender, so in Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra and other cold districts keep it potted and move it under cover for winter.

Soil and water. Sharp drainage above all else. In the ground, plant on a raised mound with coarse sand or gravel mixed through and use gravel mulch. In pots use a cactus and succulent mix, never standard potting mix. Water deeply, then let it dry right out: about once a fortnight through the warm months and close to nothing over winter.

Feed and support. A low nitrogen succulent fertiliser once in early spring is plenty, as more produces soft growth that folds over. Tall columns can get top heavy in wind, so plant firmly and stake for the first season.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: 200mm pots sold as a pack of six, then 300mm and 500mm. The 200mm packs are young single columns and the value option for a row or a repeated group. The 300mm and 500mm plants arrive established and carrying height.

Plants are packed upright and braced, because the columns bruise rather than snap. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full succulent range
• More drought tolerant plants for dry gardens
• Find a heavy pot to suit it

Common questions

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes, in the brightest position you have, ideally against a north facing window. Indoors it grows slowly and stays shorter than the 3m it reaches outside.

Will it survive a cold southern winter?

Not in the ground. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate gardens keep it in a pot and move it under cover before the first frosts. A dry, bright, unheated spot suits it.

How do I tell if I am overwatering it?

Yellowing, or a soft dark patch at the base, means too much water. Cold wet soil in July is what kills these plants, not thirst.