Description

This succulent grows to 24" tall, forming multi-stemmed, cushion-shaped clumps up to 4-6' wide. The stems are erect, succulent, superficially like a cactus, four-angled, with short but sharp pairs of 0.24" spines on the angles, very closely packed together. It does best in full sun and afternoon shade in desert areas. In coastal areas, it needs very little water. In inland valleys, it does best with supplemental watering in summer. Soil must be well draining. It tolerates alkaline and saline soils. Flowering is rare. This plant is leafless. It exudes a milky white sap called latex when cut; this is poisonous.