Family: Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia canariensis (Canary Island spurge) is a succulent, cactus-like plant up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) in height native to the Canary Islands. In its native range, it typically grows in arid and semi-arid environments and is often found in rocky areas and coastal regions. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental, and is rarely documented to escape from cultivation, but is now reported to be escaped or naturalized in Tunisia and the Balearic Islands of the Western Mediterranean. Caution: It should be handled with care, and gloves are recommended when pruning or handling the plant because its milky sap is toxic and can cause skin irritation and severe eye irritation.
High Risk Traits:
- Escaped or naturalized in Tunisia and the Balearic Islands (West-Mediterranean)
- Other Euphorbia species are invasive weeds
- Spiny
- Unpalatable to browsing animals
- Sap toxic to animals and people and can burn the skin and eyes
- Reproduces by seeds and potentially vegetatively by clonal reproduction
- Reported to be Self-fertile
- Seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence of capsules and through intentional cultivation
- Seeds may form a persistent seed bank (up to 4 years)
- Tolerates and resprouts after cutting and pruning
Low Risk Traits:
- No negative impacts reported from cultivated range
- Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
- Not reported to form dense stands or increase fire risk in native or introduced ranges
