Accession Count: 114
Common Name:
candelilla, wax plant
Family Name:
Euphorbiaceae
Botanical Name:
Euphorbia antisyphilitica
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
E. antisyphilitica produces upright waxy stems, densely packed that spread up to three feet wide and reach a height of three feet. The stems may appear as a grey or greenish color. The wax plant is also considered a deciduous shrub with invasive roots.
Compound:
Eup ant
Geographic Origin:
Texas, Mexico
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
MX, SW
Natural History:
The geographic origin of the E. antisyphilitica is Texas and Mexico. To be more exact the wax plant is from the Chihuahuan Desert starting in west Texas to South Mexico. In Mexico it can be found in Durango, Chihuahua, and Coahuila (7).
Cultivation Notes:
E. antisyphilitica is a distinctive vertical accent in the landscape. Looks good planted with cacti and other succulents or on its own with just a boulder for company. It grows best with full sun and low water usage, about once a month should suffice.
Ethnobotany:
E. antisyphilitica is harvested commercially in Texas to produce wax (2, 3, 5). The plant may have been used by Native Americans as a treatment for syphilis (2, 3). This species is great in rock gardens or used as a container plant.
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
White
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Invasive
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
