Food-Gardening Lessons From A Wartime Victory Garden

Sticks On Fire

Sticks On Fire - Photo by Craig Quirk
Sticks On Fire (photo by Craig Quirk)

Even though it is not winter hardy in most of our Pacific NW climate, for a novelty container plant, it is hard to top the color of Euphorbia tirucalli. This often goes by the common name of Red Pencil Tree, Firesticks, or Sticks on Fire and when you see the plant, you will know why it has those names. Stems tend to be red in winter and fade to copper in summer. It is an excellent container plant for a deck or patio. It needs good drainage, and I use Black Gold Cactus Mix and mentally consider it a summer annual and then I am not disappointed when it does not survive the winter!

 

About Mike Darcy

Mike lives and gardens in a suburb of Portland, Oregon where he has resided since 1969. He grew in up Tucson, Arizona where he worked at a small retail nursery during his high school and college years. He received his formal education at the University of Arizona where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture, and though he values his formal education, he values his field-experience more. It is hard to beat the ‘hands on’ experience of actually gardening, visiting gardens, and sharing information with other gardeners. Mike has been involved with gardening communications throughout his adult life. In addition to garden writing, he has done television gardening shows in Portland, and for over 30 years he hosted a Saturday radio talk show in Portland. Now he writes, speaks, gardens and continues to share his love of gardening. To be connected to the gardening industry is a bonus in life for Mike. He has found gardeners to be among the friendliest and most caring, generous people. Consequently, many of his friends he has met through gardening.

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