A "pencil palm" can refer to either the Pencil Tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) or the Pencil Pine (Cupressus sempervirens), which are very different plants. The Pencil Tree is a succulent with thick, pencil-like stems and milky sap, requiring low maintenance and good for beginners. The Pencil Pine is a tall, narrow, evergreen conifer with a columnar shape, providing a formal look outdoors and is native to the Mediterranean region