Sun; some protection from western sun can make for a more attractive plant. Evergreen, with mostly unbranched pale, waxy stems. Leaves and white flowers are both inconspicuous. The waxy coating was widely harvested during the 20th century, making candelilla somewhat scarce in the wild.
Use carefully around children, who may be attracted to the toylike appearance of the stems; many plants in this genus, like poinsettia, castor bean, etc., can be toxic and irritating to the skin.