This video exposes the danger of the Euphorbia tirucalli (also known as aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire or milk bush
Your (former) plant was an Euphorbia tirucalli. The "Firesticks" variety is the one that turns an angry shade of red. Which is the variety that I grow (in a container). Many plants have varying degrees of how dangerous they can be; some much more common than this. I've been growing this plant off and on for the better part of two decades with no problems whatsoever. Well, aside from my teenage nephew not heeding my warning and wanting to find out for himself how dangerous the sap is. Which he did find out the hard way that I wasn't bluffing, HaHa. Thanks for sharing this knowledge with everyone. The more people that know, the better. I let my neighbors know about how dangerous this plant is, and to be cautious around it. When I have people over visiting, I advise them as well. It makes a great conversation piece, and people always show interest in it. I've never encountered any negative feedback from others; or any injuries, for that matter. When people want to grow any plants, they should always educate themselves on what it is that they're growing. It's their own fault if they, or anyone on their property, gets injured. Just because a plant looks harmless, or looks pretty, that doesn't mean that it's safe. We don't go eating berries from some wild plant because they look yummy, do we? Of course not. We always err on the side of caution. Well, most people do.
Damnit! i just bought one of these the other day. I plan on keeping it in the pot but now Im afraid of it and I won't put it in the back yard because we have 3 dogs.
Tara Green I grow mine in a pot, because it gets too cold here during the winter months. My neighbors have dogs and they've never bothered it in all of the years that I've been here. I have a couple of cats that couldn't care less about it either. I've never encountered any problems from them. Just exercise caution when handling it. I bought some cheap latex gloves to wear while I repot mine. Just to be safe.
Our dogs are dumb and lick everything. lol. I wanted to keep it in the pot so it doesn't grow really big, plus im afraid the monsoon out here in Phoenix will knock it over. hopefully it will get the pretty red and oranges on it when it cools down out here. It only secrets sap when broken or cut, yeah?
I bought something similar here in Taiwan: Stick Cactus. It just isn't worth the risk having it in a windy patio with a 4 year old kid who could break a bit off... If it grew large it could be bashed around in typhoon winds and broken off bits would land in a kid's playground below... Thanks for the tips. Bagged and trashed. Damn silly purchase!
This is EXACTLY what happened to me. The pain was hellish. The worst part about it was that when I went to Urgent Care, they had no idea what was wrong! i did research and found what sort of plant it was and what it did, thanks to people like you who spread the news. I'm in AZ where this plant is more common. I told them I was gardening. They didn't even ask me what sort of plants I had. UG!! Oh well. They gave me some drops that numbed my eye and that really helped. Sorry this happened to you.
I wouldnt freak out and trash one. I would rehome it with cautions. I was given a huge one w o information but was fortunate to research it quickly. I have another type of euphorbia, groundcover, so im used to safeguarding myself.
Sharing my story about the Fire Stick.I several plants on my deck. I moved it and it brushed up against my arms. I had flu symptoms from touching it, not the sap, but, the green part. I got sick a few weekends ago with nausea and now again this weekend, nausea, head and neck aches and feeling very tired. The plant is very toxic and stay away!!!
man, my dad give me this plant over a yr ago. It looks really cool but it started to get top heavy. so I gave it a trim and behold, liquid started pouring out of it like water on the thicker stems. It dripped all over my hands. So Went inside and wash them quickly went back out to finish. Long story, I didn't noticed till maybe 40 minutes later. My hands felt like I caught them on fire. They looked as if I had third-degree Burns. 1st hour was awful, I cried. Ran cool water on them, then got two big cups of ice water wait for 30 mins, then moved on to ice packs so this happens to anybody and you get it on your skin I recommend ice water to help get rid of the sap & then go to ice packs, this stuff is crazy. The 1st 3 hours are intense felt like my hands were never going to stop burning, After it became tolerable with ice packs I also used aloe plant natural cuz everything else seemed to made it feel worse. The pain lasts about 48 hours.
I just discovered the same thing.... I accidentally touched the bush as I was on the edge of the pool and the white milky substance got on my hand without me realizing it. I must have touched my right eye without realizing that I had anything on my hands because my right eye is completely inflamed and watering. I've been flushing my eye for about a half hour and it's starting to subside a little bit. Thank you for putting your post up for other people to reference.
If you ever get this sap on you use a baby oil or mineral oil to get it off of you water spreads it oil removes it. Also if it gets in your eyes seek medical attention immediately! If left untreated will cause blindness. My hoa had them removed because one of our grounds keepers lost his vision due to the fire stick sap getting in his eyes
Wow you suffered, sorry you had to endured such pain. I’m in love with these fire sticks . All four of mine are assembled with succulents fire rocks in large pots on my front porch. I have three dogs and they play in the backyard. I saw these plants in a video and was informed of its toxicity but didn’t think Emergency care would be required and thought flushing with water would wash out the sap. I will exercise even a higher level of carefulness from now. Thank you for sharing.
yikes! i just bought 1 for $5.99 no wonder it was on clearance. l heard you're supposed to cover up and use a rag and apply pressure while wearing gloves to catch the sap. I'm keeping it pot bound.
Revenge of the firestick! I had a similar experience but with fig tree sap, apparently it's called ficin dermatitis. Thanks for the video, I have also recently added them to the garden so will be more awares of now.
Wish I was aware of the poisonous sap. As you, I got it in my eye. I was triming a 1” branch and a glop shot straight into my eye. It felt like pepper spray after a few minutes. I tried flushing with water from the sink, but eventually ended at the ER. I was told I could have gone partially blind if left untreated. A week later I wore proper clothing, goggles and a face shield and proceeded to mercilessly cut it down and pull out the roots. I gave it the double bird flip salute as I tossed it into the trash bin. Good riddance.
The corona de cristo in my yard that I decided to prune brought me here. I'm suffering so bad in my right eye and even my nose is runny and stuffed. This is crazy! I've been living with this bush 7 years and have cut it before incident free. Not sure what happened this time but next time it needs a trim, I might have to get a hazmat suit! My eye is on FIRE!!!!!!
I just had something happen with another Euphorbia and I had no idea, it took hours tonight, and I had no idea about the sap? It was my grandmothers and I want to take it home... I was covering his spikes to move it and I saw a white substance on the ground... knew it was from cactus, but did not know the dangers of it! She passed and I’m moving her things to my home, I walked downstairs and opened a monopoly feeling a little teary I wiped my eye! And omg! I called my mom crying I did not know what to do my whole left side of my face is swollen, my tears made it worse, the got on my lip and in my mouth! I still didn’t think about it being the plant, I had no one here to take me to Er and I could not drive I couldn’t even stand up because the blood rushing through my made it worse... it wasn’t until a little while about 2 hours I thought about the sap from the plant... the pain was relentless! Thanks for sharing your story
Been trying to find one in Houston Texas now for a bit of 5 years I used to have one they do grow pretty big outside I was told at first they were called a pencil plant then in the last 3 years I found out that the name of them is euphoria are pencil cactus I wish I could find me one I love those plants yes they do have that milk sapp it only cost a little itching for me when it got on my skin... But I'm still looking for one if you know where I can find one in Houston Texas please let me know
I knew it was toxic but I found it does not wash off. I touched an eye and it stared burning. The more you rub the worse it gets. I washed my hands again and scrubbed. Asked hours to wear off. The plant should be illegal.
Thanks for letting us all know we hear it but we don’t believe it until you tell us what happened to you we need to be careful with this plant for real people
Some years ago me pops and his friend were trimming one of these suckers. The friend went to use bathroom and scratched his dingleberries... no explanation needed. True story. Also, about 6 months ago, pops took the trimmings in the morning of same mentioned plant to trash bin with no gloves and on the way to work scratched his eyes... I mean, i guess some people just never learn :/
I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN!!!!!!! We decided to take a piece of a plant that once belonged to my husband's grandmother home with us from Florida. As we were leaving for airport, I took 2 cuttings and wrapped them and put them in a bag, When we got to the airport we got some lunch When I was done I must have touched my eye because it started with a slight burning that quickly went to a SEVERE burning, watering and swelling of my right eye, The pain was unbearable, I thought it was from the food, or more specifically the grill it was cooked on. Fortunately I had allergy eyedrops and I flushed my eye with water then the drops.Then a nice girl got me ice in a rubber glove and I kept that on it for a long time. I wish I saw this first... It was BRUTAL!
Sad to say, i watch this video very late. Just came home from.the hospital, and my eyes right now is still i pain and blurred and swelling.. i was hacking some branches of this kind because it was already big. Without my knowledge about this plant the white sap went directly into my eyes.. and yeah. I ended up in the hospital.
ten minutes ago , we had to take my husband to hospital, the sap came in his eyes and 12 hours later, he is semi blind and his eyes swollen...awaiting results...thanks for sharing
Omg.I felt so dumb cause i had to call paramedics I had no clue but when I told the paramedics what I was trimming they knew exactly what i was talking about, it is not exaggerated about the pain if you get it in your eyes , I did exactly that it was the worse burning and watery eyes that i ever felt and dont want to ever feel again and then not being able to see, I had to go to ER have my eyes rinsed for 15-20 min straight and then they put some numbing drops in my eyes, which helped alot but the burning kept coming back for a couple of days. We have 2 separate plants out there and am trying to find out any info about digging them up , cause that will be happening.Is there any advice on how to pull them up besides not touching them?
I'm no pro but I'd say if you were trying to relocate a larger plant, a safer way would be to wrap and tie the plant first in burlap or old sheets. You should then be able to contain sap to some extent for removal and relocation of the plant. Of course the safest way is to hire a pro.
Just bought the plant. Got a litte bit of sap on my finger, didn’t feel anything.. It’s not called firestick because of the burning sap. It gets red in colder temperatures.. Maybe a bad choice when having pets. Children need to be educated if you what it in your home.
Thank you, Gary Cotton for sharing this information. When it is sold in stores or nursery, it should be a law to put a warning on the tag. Can't imagine what would happen with young children. Lynn & Richard from Wisconsin Garden.com
You're welcome Lynn. I've gone back and checked. On the price tag on the pot there is a warning of sorts but it's minor and in such small print it's basically unreadable.
I cant believe youre even leaving that one alive, after that experience I would (carefully)remove it, bag it and put it in the trash right before pickup. (so the pickers dont accidentally contact it) You have to wonder why people plant dangerous shit like this. In Ocean Beach on Voltaire by Bacon someone has a number of various cactus planted, all with those huge spikes, on the strip between the sidewalk and street. Asking for a lawsuit me thinks.
While the experience with this plant is extremely painful, it is not as deadly as many other plants such as the common oleander. It is so toxic that being stabbed with it can be fatal. WebMD also says even breathing the smoke can kill.
The question is rather who has ever researched a plant before pruning it other than how it should be shaped. Can you think of any other plant that is this strong of an irritant?
