How often to water Moroccan mound in California
In July on the north-central coast, established Moroccan mound in loam needs a deep soak only about once a month or less: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across. Moroccan mound is a slow-growing succulent from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Its leafless, four-sided, blue-green stems pack tightly into a spiny cushion 1 to 2 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. It lives on very little water in well-drained soil, and its milky sap is toxic and burns the skin.
How often to water Moroccan mound, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Stems looking shriveled or limp after a long dry spell mean the clump could use a deep drink
- Soft, darkened stems at the base point to root rot from overwatering
- White, cottony specks on the stems point to mealybugs, not a watering problem
- Fine webbing and pale speckling on the stems point to spider mites rather than thirst
- A firm, blue-green mound that holds its color through summer is getting all the water it needs
How to water it
- Water slowly at the edge of the mound so the water soaks in instead of running off
- Along the coast, water an established clump only occasionally and lightly
- Inland, give a bit more from spring through summer, letting the soil dry well between soaks
- Plant in fast-draining sandy or rocky soil, or on a slope where the soil is clay
- Give it full sun, with afternoon shade in hot desert gardens, and leave room for the mound to widen
Through the seasons
Water a new planting lightly until it roots, letting the soil dry between soaks. Once established, it needs very little water through most of the year, and coastal clumps get by on rain plus an occasional summer drink. It stays evergreen, and small yellow flowering structures may appear on the stems in late winter or spring. WUCOLS rates Moroccan mound very low water on the north-central coast and on the south coast. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the Central Valley, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert. Cold below about 20 degrees can damage it.
In pots
Moroccan mound makes a striking container plant and is sometimes grown as a houseplant. Use a gritty cactus mix and a pot with a large drainage hole. From spring to fall, water when the top inch of mix feels dry, then let the excess drain away completely. Never leave the pot in a filled saucer. In winter, water only enough to keep the stems from shriveling. Wear gloves when repotting, since the sap is toxic.
- A year
- no figure
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
WUCOLS lists Moroccan Mound as not evaluated for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.
Monthly water need by climate zone
Moroccan Mound: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.04 | – | 0.08 | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.05 | – | 0.08 | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.09 | – | 0.11 | – | – | – |
| Apr | 0.12 | – | 0.14 | – | – | – |
| May | 0.15 | – | 0.16 | – | – | – |
| Jun | 0.16 | – | 0.17 | – | – | – |
| Jul | 0.16 | – | 0.2 | – | – | – |
| Aug | 0.15 | – | 0.19 | – | – | – |
| Sep | 0.12 | – | 0.15 | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.09 | – | 0.11 | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.05 | – | 0.08 | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.03 | – | 0.07 | – | – | – |
| Year | 1.2 | – | 1.55 | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated not evaluated in the Central Valley, like Moroccan mound. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Lilyleaf LadybellsAdenophora liliifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
ArnicaArnica montananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Frilly BergeniaBergenia ciliatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Cabbage on a StickBrighamia insignisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Basket PlantCallisia fragransnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Forest SedgeCarex sylvaticanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Umbrella DracaenaDianella ensifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Rusty FoxgloveDigitalis ferrugineanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Big-Flowered FoxgloveDigitalis grandifloranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Woolly FoxgloveDigitalis lanatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Sunset FoxgloveDigitalis obscuranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Male FernDryopteris filix-masnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Alpine Sea HollyEryngium alpinumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Purple SpurgeEuphorbia dulcisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Queen of the MeadowFilipendula ulmarianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
DropwortFilipendula vulgaris (Filipendula hexapetala)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes Moroccan mound, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does Moroccan mound need per day?
In July on the north-central coast, established Moroccan mound needs about 0.0 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for Moroccan mound change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates Moroccan mound separately for each of the six California climate zones: very low water in the North-Central Coastal zone, not evaluated in the Central Valley zone, very low water in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Is Moroccan mound sap dangerous?
Yes. The milky sap can cause mild to severe skin irritation and can damage the eyes. Wear gloves and eye protection when cutting it, and keep it away from children and pets.
Is Moroccan mound a cactus?
No. It belongs to the spurge family and only looks like a cactus. Its leafless stems do the work of leaves.
How do I propagate Moroccan mound?
Take stem cuttings, which are easy to find on this branching plant. Let each cutting dry for about a week so the wound seals, then plant it in a dry, sandy mix. Unsealed cuttings rot before they root.
Why isn't my Moroccan mound flowering?
Flowering is not reliable in gardens, and some plants rarely bloom. When it blooms, expect tiny yellow structures between late winter and spring. The plant is grown mainly for its form.
How cold can Moroccan mound take?
It handles cold to about 20 degrees. In colder spots, grow it in a pot that can move under cover for winter.
Is Moroccan mound deer resistant?
Yes, deer and rabbits tend to avoid it. Watch instead for mealybugs, spider mites and scale.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Euphorbia resinifera, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf