Yes. Just make sure to give the wound has time to "callus over" before planting the cutting (top portion). Larger wounds (from larger cuttings) will require more time to "callus over" than smaller material.

My pencil bush is 12 feet tall and seven feet wide, I read they can get 20 feet tall.

I did not start a cutting from my pencil, I was going to start one for my Granddaughter, however, when looking for info on propagation I found that it is VERY TOXIC, so much so that tree experts in California would not cut them down and dispose of them!! Mine went in the trash, just wanted to put that out there for those that might need to know.

That is true about it being very toxic. Get any of the milky white latex sap on your skin and it will cause a rash that takes a long time to heal, actually destroys the skin. Get any in your eye and it will cause blindness. In Africa they eat the sap to commit suicide.

thanx so much for the info. maybe its just me but, the cactus juicey milky stuff doesnt bother me at all. no skin irritations. im not dumb enough to putany in my mouth or eyes though. maybe i just have really tough hands.