FNPS Plant Database

Cnidoscolus stimulosus

Tread-Softly; finger-rot

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Tread-Softly; finger-rot

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Cnidoscolus stimulosus

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1 (3) ft tall by .5-1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms spring-summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Thorns

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden.

Considerations:

While this plant has interesting foliage and white flowers, it also has stinging hairs. Weeding around this species, transplanting it, or walking on it is be unpleasant unless gloves are worn.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Attracts butterflies and other insects ( https://flawildflowers.org/ ).

Native Habitats:

Disturbed dry areas, scrub and scrubby flatwoods, sandhill.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Perhaps best left to wildflower enthusiasts out to prove that they can tolerate the pain of growing it!

Citations:

Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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