Euphorbia lactea ‘White Ghost’

A species from Sri Lanka

‘White Ghost’ is a cultivar of Euphorbia lactea. The wild species grows in the seasonally dry tropical regions of Sri Lanka.

‘White Ghost’ comes through a species accustomed to Sri Lanka’s warm rainy season and the pronounced dry period that follows it. Its pale stems store moisture through that leaner part of the year.

Euphorbia lactea ‘White Ghost’: bright light and dry intervals

• Light: Provide very bright light but introduce direct sun cautiously, as the predominantly pale stems scorch more easily than greener growth.
• Watering: Allow the mix to dry thoroughly before watering again and keep water away from the branching stem joints.
• Substrate: Use a coarse, mineral-rich succulent mix with rapid drainage.
• Temperature: Maintain warm conditions above 12°C and avoid cold, damp roots.
• Humidity: Low to average indoor humidity suits the stems when air circulates freely.
• Feeding: Apply a light feed every 6–8 weeks during visible growth; heavy feeding can produce weak extension.
• Repotting: A snug, weighty pot supports the increasingly branched top growth.
• Propagation: Take a healthy stem or branch cutting during active growth, let the cut surface callus fully and root it in a coarse mineral mix.
• Winter: When extension growth stops, leave the mix dry for longer until activity resumes.

Common problems with Euphorbia lactea ‘White Ghost’

• Dark, soft tissue at the base: Stop watering and isolate the plant. If it is tall, heavy or unstable, seek experienced help instead of unpotting or cutting it yourself. If it can be handled safely, wear nitrile gloves, long sleeves and eye protection, and keep the milky latex off skin and eyes. Unpot the plant and remove rotten tissue with a disinfected blade, clean the tool and work surface, then let every wound seal fully before placing firm tissue in dry mineral substrate.
• Dry patches on the exposed side: A firm pale or brown patch after a sudden increase in direct sun is scorch. Move the plant out of hot midday sun and rebuild exposure gradually; softening, darkening or expansion indicates rot instead.
• A green branch growing faster: A branch with substantially more green tissue may outgrow the predominantly white stems. Remove it only if it begins to dominate the plant. Wear nitrile gloves, long sleeves and eye protection, cut it cleanly at the branch junction with a disinfected blade, contain the milky latex and let the wound seal dry.
• White wax or fixed brown bumps: Inspect the ribs, branch junctions and spine bases for mealybugs or scale. Isolate the plant and apply a product labelled for the identified pest without saturating the root zone.

Euphorbia milky sap and spines

Cut or broken stems release milky sap that can irritate skin, eyes and the mouth. The spines can also puncture skin, paws or eyes. Swallowing plant material may cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea. Wear gloves and eye protection when cutting or handling damaged growth. If sap touches the skin, wash it off with soap and water. If it enters an eye, rinse continuously with water for 15–20 minutes and seek medical advice. If a person swallows any part, rinse the mouth and contact a poison centre or doctor for advice; if a pet eats the plant, contact a veterinarian.

A milk-white species name

The epithet lactea means milky or milk-white. The genus Euphorbia was named for Euphorbus, physician to King Juba II.

In 1753, Linnaeus published the genus Euphorbia in Species Plantarum. The species was formally published by Haworth in the 1812 Synopsis Plantarum Succulentarum.