Family: Euphorbiaceae

Commonly called red hot cattail, this beautiful ever-blooming shrub adds color to the garden, hedge, accent, or lanai. The rust-colored flowers resemble the wetland plant called cat’s tail. The leaves are green, somewhat fuzzy, and not very striking—however, the prolific red flowers more than make up for the ‘boring’ foliage. Native to New Guinea and Malaysia, it thrives in humid environments and doesn’t like direct afternoon sun.

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Indoor plant
• Ornamental
• Privacy / screening

Plant Dangers:

• Toxic to humans

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical/subtropical climates.
  
• Widely cultivated and introduced beyond its native range.
  
• Documented as naturalized in some regions (e.g., Mauritius, Brazil).
  
• Sap is toxic, causing severe skin irritation and nausea.
  
• Other species in its genus are known to be serious weeds.

Low Risk Traits:

• Not cold-tolerant; requires frost-free, humid conditions.
  
• Not currently a significant agricultural or environmental weed.
  
• Lacks spines, thorns, or a smothering growth habit.
  
• Rarely produces viable seed in cultivation due to separate male/female plants.
  
• Lacks effective mechanisms for long-distance seed dispersal.