Skip to content

Wild Poinsettia

  • by

Wild Poinsettia (Euphorbia cyathophora)

Description:  The dwarf poinsettia has green stems and alternate lobed leaves, the uppermost with irregular red blotches near the base. The terminal flowers are yellowish with 1-2 small glands or nectaries. Fire-on-the-mountain is a member of the spurge family (family Euphorbiaceae). Spurges are common herbs, with milky sap; in the tropics also include shrubs or trees. There are about 290 genera and 7,500 species, mostly of warm or hot regions. Among the valuable products of the family are rubber, castor and tung oils, and tapioca. Most members of the family are poisonous, and their milky sap will irritate the membranes of the eyes and mouth.

Family:  Euphorbiaceae

Synonym(s):  Euphorbia barbellata, Euphorbia graminifolia, Euphorbia havanensis, Euphorbia heterophylla var. barbellata, Euphorbia heterophylla var. cyathophora, Euphorbia heterophylla var. graminifolia, Poinsettia barbellata, Poinsettia cyathophora, Poinsettia cyathophora var. graminifolia, Poinsettia graminifolia, Poinsettia havanensis, Poinsettia, Fire on the Mountain

USDA Symbol:  EUCY

Duration:  Annual

Habit: Herb

Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Color: Yellow

Bloom Time: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Water Use:  Medium

Light Requirements:  Sun

Soil Moisture:  Moist

Bloom Notes:

ATTRIBUTION:  All of the Texas Wildflower images in this post are copyrighted and are the exclusive property of Terry B. Kahler. Reproduction without explicit written consent is prohibited. Some of the information contained in this section was taken from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website and is being used under their terms of use. Redistribution from this site is prohibited. Additional information contained in this section was taken from the USDA website including the USDA code.

LBJ Logo  USDA Logo