• Photo of Euphorbia mammillaris (Euphorbia mammillariss)

Plant Profile: Euphorbia mammillaris

Taxonomy: Euphorbia mammillaris

Names

Corncob Cactus, Corncob Euphorbia, Corn Cob Plant, Indian Corn Cob

  • Photo of Euphorbia mammillaris (Euphorbia mammillariss)

Phonetic Spelling:yoo-FOR-bee-uh mam-mil-LAIR-iss

Genus:Euphorbia

Species:mammillaris

Family:Euphorbiaceae

The Indian Corn Cob is a striking, columnar plant that resembles a cactus, adorned with occasional spikes akin to toothpicks. This resilient species thrives in dry conditions and requires excellent drainage. During the summer months, water it weekly, while in winter, a monthly watering is sufficient, ensuring the soil dries out completely between sessions. Given ample space and sunlight, the Indian Corn Cob can grow up to 1 foot tall and will produce new branches from its base.

For optimal growth, plant it in containers that have adequate drainage holes, using potting soil designed for succulents and cacti. Ensure it receives plenty of sunlight outdoors or bright light indoors.

Euphorbia mammillaris Feature Summary

Euphorbia mammillaris Image Gallery

Tags

#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#drought tolerant
#succulent
#low water use
#patio
#ribbed stems
#gray-green stems

Similar Plants

Euphorbia mammillaris Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit
Obtusely lobed, up to 6 mm in diameter, subsessile.
Flowers
It produces a cup-shaped involucre of fused bracts enclosing several greatly reduced male flowers and a single female flower at the tip of each stem in late winter to early summer.
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Summer
Winter
< 1 inch
Leaves
the leaves are small, green and ephemeral.
Stem
Thick succulent gray-green ribbed stems with scattered spikes and club-like lateral branches.
Green
Gray/Silver
Whole Plant Traits
Houseplant
Succulent
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Container
Patio
Houseplants

Euphorbia mammillaris Attributes

Euphorbia mammillaris: Country Or Region Of Origin

South Africa

Euphorbia mammillaris: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Euphorbia mammillaris Fruit

Euphorbia mammillaris: Fruit Description

Obtusely lobed, up to 6 mm in diameter, subsessile.

Euphorbia mammillaris Flowers

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Description

It produces a cup-shaped involucre of fused bracts enclosing several greatly reduced male flowers and a single female flower at the tip of each stem in late winter to early summer.

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Euphorbia mammillaris: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Euphorbia mammillaris Leaves

Euphorbia mammillaris: Leaf Description

the leaves are small, green and ephemeral.

Euphorbia mammillaris: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Euphorbia mammillaris Stem

Euphorbia mammillaris: Stem Description

Thick succulent gray-green ribbed stems with scattered spikes and club-like lateral branches.

Euphorbia mammillaris: Stem Color

grass
Gray/Silver
grass
Green

Euphorbia mammillaris: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Euphorbia mammillaris Whole Plant Traits

Euphorbia mammillaris: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Euphorbia mammillaris: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Euphorbia mammillaris: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Euphorbia mammillaris: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Euphorbia mammillaris Cultural Conditions

Euphorbia mammillaris: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Euphorbia mammillaris: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Euphorbia mammillaris: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Euphorbia mammillaris: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Euphorbia mammillaris Landscape

Euphorbia mammillaris: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Euphorbia mammillaris: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Euphorbia mammillaris: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland