Euphorbia ingens E. Mey. ex Boiss.

Common name(s): Candelabra Tree, Naboom, Giant Euphorbia, Tree Euphorbia

Family: Euphorbiaceae Synonym(s): Euphorbia bilocularis N.E.Br., Euphorbia candelabrum var. bilocularis N.E.Br., S.Carter, Euphorbia confertiflora Volkens, Euphorbia reinhardtii Volkens, Euphorbia reinhardtii var. bilocularis N.E.Br., Oudejans, Euphorbia similis A.Berger, Euphorbia tozzii Chiov.

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 5th August, 2025 at Mt Coot tha Botanical Gardens, Queensland

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington on 5th August, 2025

Stem (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit - Immature

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Unkown

Expand all

Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties

Origin(s)

Botswana

Botswana: Indigenous

Kenya

Kenya: Indigenous

Malawi

Malawi: Indigenous

Mozambique

Mozambique: Indigenous

Rwanda

Rwanda: Indigenous

South Africa

Eastern Ca: Indigenous
Nth Cape: Indigenous

Eswatini

Swaziland: Indigenous

Tanzania, United Republic of

Tanzania: Indigenous

Uganda

Uganda: Indigenous

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Indigenous

Plant Type

Evergreen Succulent Tree, Evergreen Succulent

Evergreen Succulent Tree,

Evergreen Succulent

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Arid-Semi / Steppe, Arid-Humid, Tropical-Sub

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Arid-Humid,

Tropical-Sub

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Arid-Humid, Arid-Semi / Steppe, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub

Arid-Humid,

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full

Habitat Range(s)

Arid-Humid, Arid-Semi / Steppe, Desert Vegetation, Grasslands

Arid-Humid,

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Desert Vegetation,

Grasslands

Habitat Zone(s)

Dry, Dry Valley Slopes, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Gullies / Valley's / Canyons, Hill Sides, Hills, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Well drained, Windy

Dry,

Dry Valley Slopes,

Exposed,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyons,

Hill Sides,

Hills,

Open areas,

Plains,

Ridges,

Rock crevices,

Rocky,

Sandy Dry,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Slopes,

Well drained,

Windy

Mature Height

6-7m, 7-8m, 8-9m, 9-10m

6-7m,

7-8m,

8-9m,

9-10m

Mature Width

3-4m, 4-5m, 5-6m

3-4m,

4-5m,

5-6m

Plant Shape

Branched - Columnar

Growth Rate

Moderate

Maturity

10-12 yrs., 12-14 yrs.

10-12 yrs.,

12-14 yrs.

Leaf Properties

Leaf Colour (front)

Green Dark

Leaf Colour (back)

Green Dark

Leaf Shape(s)

Obovate

Ovate

Obovate,

Ovate

Leaf Length(s)

2-3mm

Leaf Aroma

None

Trunk / Stem Properties

Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)

Green

Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)

Grey-brown

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Feature(s)

Spined

Ribbed-deeply , Spines-sharp , Spines-short

Ribbed-deeply,

Spines-sharp,

Spines-short

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Autumn

Flowering Time (end)

Winter

Colour(s)

Yellow-green

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Cyathiform

Cyathium - Male

Cyathiform,

Cyathium - Male

Flower Size(s) Width

7.5-10mm

Arrangement(s)

Cyme Monochasial / Simple

Terminal

Flowers per Arrangement

2-3

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Butterflies

Bees,

Butterflies

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Plant

Gender: Female

Flowering Time (start)

Autumn

Flowering Time (end)

Winter

Colour(s)

Yellow, Yellow-green

Yellow,

Yellow-green

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Cyathiform

Cyathium - Female

Cyathiform,

Cyathium - Female

Arrangement(s)

Cyme Monochasial / Simple

Terminal

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Butterflies

Bees,

Butterflies

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Plant

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Coccarium

Shape(s)

Globose-sub 3 lobed

Outer Colour(s)

Purple

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Fleshy

Width

7-8mm, 8-9mm, 9-10mm

7-8mm,

8-9mm,

9-10mm

Aroma

None

Season of Fruiting

Spring Late, Summer

Spring Late,

Summer

Fruit Ripening

2 mths, 3 mths.

2 mths,

3 mths.

Maturation for Fruiting

3 yrs., 4 yrs.

3 yrs.,

4 yrs.

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Plate

Fibrous,

Plate

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Condition(s)

Moist

Moist-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Poor , Deep , Well Drained

Poor,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

None

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR6-soil may remain dry

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,

WR6-soil may remain dry

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Habitat, Nesting, Seed

Habitat,

Nesting,

Seed

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

None

Edible(s)

None

Drought Tolerance

Very Good

Frost Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerant

Good

Landscape Use

Moderate

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium, High

Low,

Medium,

High

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6, FR11

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Light Winds

General Notes

A tough, hardy evergreen succulent tree for drier climates. The latex is very toxic and causes skin blistering and intense irritation. The plant does produce small scale like leaves on new growth but they are deciduous and fall off at an early age.