Baseball plant (living baseball) Euphorbia obesa
Baseball plant (living baseball) (Euphorbia obesa) is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the Euphorbiaceae family, native to A small area of the Great Karoo near Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It grows 6–20 cm (2–8 in) tall and 6–12 cm (2–5 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about 2 °C (36 °F). Space plants about 10 cm (4 in) apart.
Plan Baseball plant (living baseball) in your garden →
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Baseball plant (living baseball) at a glance
| Type | Perennial groundcover, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Euphorbiaceae |
| Mature height | 6–20 cm (2–8 in) |
| Mature spread | 6–12 cm (2–5 in) |
| Spacing | 10 cm (4 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About 2 °C (36 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 42 °C (108 °F) |
| Flowering | about 156–261 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | A small area of the Great Karoo near Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇯🇵 Japan |
Is Baseball plant (living baseball) toxic?
- People: severely toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: milky latex
The milky latex burns skin and can cause severe, painful eye injury and even temporary blindness: wear gloves and eye protection when cutting it.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Baseball plant (living baseball)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Baseball plant (living baseball)
- How far apart should I plant Baseball plant (living baseball)?
- About 10 cm (4 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 6–12 cm (2–5 in).
- Does Baseball plant (living baseball) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Baseball plant (living baseball) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Baseball plant (living baseball)?
- It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Baseball plant (living baseball) flower?
- About 156–261 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks.
- Is Baseball plant (living baseball) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people severely toxic. The milky latex burns skin and can cause severe, painful eye injury and even temporary blindness: wear gloves and eye protection when cutting it.
- What grows well with Baseball plant (living baseball)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Baseball plant (living baseball). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN
Notes and assumptions
- A plant of dry, sunny places: grow it in gritty, free-draining soil and water deeply but rarely; cold and wet together kill it faster than frost or drought.
- In frosty climates it is a classic pot plant for a bright windowsill, put outside in summer.
- A spineless, grey-green ball with eight ribs and faint purple bands, uncannily like a baseball; male and female plants are separate. Once nearly collected out of the wild, it is endangered and protected; nursery seedlings are easy to buy.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
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- Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia characias
- Candlenut (kukui) Aleurites moluccanus
- Candelabra tree (naboom) Euphorbia ingens