Warning

For all eye exposures rinse the eye with water for 15 minutes.

Description

Ornamental shrub with thick, succulent zigzag stems.

The red flowers are slipper-shaped, up to 1cm long and clustered towards the top of the stems.

The leaves are large, thick, alternate, elliptic in shape, up to 6cm long and wide, pointed at the tip and rounded at the base, falling readily from the stems, making the plant appear almost leafless.

Toxicity

  • Potentially toxic

  • Irritant to skin or eyes

Symptoms

The sap is a skin irritant. Ingestion can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Eye contact with sap is likely to cause pain and redness.

Images

Photo by Mary Louden
Photo by Mary Louden

Details

Common name: Zigzag plant

Botanical nameEuphorbia tithymaloides.

Other common names: Slipper flower, lady’s slipper

Family: Euphorbiaceae

General description: Ornamental shrub with thick, succulent zigzag stems.

Flowers: The red flowers are slipper-shaped, up to 1cm long and clustered towards the top of the stems.

Leaves: The leaves are large, thick, alternate, elliptic in shape, up to 6cm long and wide, pointed at the tip and rounded at the base, falling readily from the stems, making the plant appear almost leafless.

Other: Copious milky sap.

Last updated: July 2023