This variable South African columnar succulent, which may be globose when young, resembles a cactus. Forms in cultivation tend to offset a lot over time near the base. They are easy, rewarding plants in cultivation given excellent drainage and strong light. They are excellent subjects for photography of the stem and especially the cyathia.

E. polygona has absorbed E. horrida (green cyathia) and E. anoplia (red cyathia), the latter now a variety. With the merging of E. horrida there are now a number of other varieties associated with E. polygona, trying to account for the natural variability. 12-20 ribs, stems to 5-6 feet tall (usually much less in cultivation). Cyathia are red to dark purple or yellow-green to green, fruit is furry.

To favor a more solitary growth habit and/or a larger main stem, remove offsets regularly. If propagation is your aim, do this when they are still small (so they're not all packed in together and hard to separate), but after they have grown roots so they are independent when they are separated. Stem cuttings can also be easily rooted. Avoid any contact with the white sap (extreme irritant), and wait a week or more after breaking up a clump to water.

In my experience these plants vary in their resistance to herbivores. E. polygona var. anoplia is edible to hares but var. polygona is not; hybrids of the two are edible to rodents.

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