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

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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

Apice(s)

Acute Broadly

Obtuse

Acute Broadly,

Obtuse

Leaf Aroma

None

Trunk / Stem Properties

Sap Colour

Cream-white

Sap Texture

Sticky / Resinous

Branch(lets) Colour

Green-grey, Green Dark

Green-grey,

Green Dark

Branch(lets) Texture

Fleshy

Branch(lets) Cross Section

Ribbed Deeply, Ribbed 4, Ribbed 5

Ribbed Deeply,

Ribbed 4,

Ribbed 5

Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)

Green

Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)

Grey-brown

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Texture (Upper)

Ribbed

Wrinkled / Rugose

Ribbed,

Wrinkled / Rugose

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Texture (Lower)

Ribbed

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Feature(s)

Spined

Ribbed-deeply , Spines-sharp , Spines-short

Ribbed-deeply,

Spines-sharp,

Spines-short

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Construction

Caudiciform

Trunk / Stem Cross Section

Terete

Ribbed Deeply

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Margin

Spinose

Undulate

Spinose,

Undulate

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Aroma

None

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

Attachment

Pedicelate

Pedicel Size (flower stem)

2-3mm

Arrangement(s)

Cyme Monochasial / Simple

Terminal

Flowers per Arrangement

2-3

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Butterflies

Bees,

Butterflies

Stamen Length

2.5-5mm, 5-7.5mm

2.5-5mm,

5-7.5mm

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

Attachment

Pedicelate

Pedicel Size (flower stem)

2-3mm

Arrangement(s)

Cyme Monochasial / Simple

Terminal

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Butterflies

Bees,

Butterflies

Stamen Length

2.5-5mm

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.

Seed Properties

Type

Achene

Colour(s)

Brown Light Spotted, Grey-brown

Brown Light Spotted,

Grey-brown

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Globose-sub

Texture(s)

Grooved

Warty / Tuberculate

Grooved,

Warty / Tuberculate

Seed Length

3-4mm

Seed Dispersal

Birds, Gravity

Birds,

Gravity

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Plate

Fibrous,

Plate

Texture

Cord-like , Fibrous

Cord-like,

Fibrous

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Premium Potting Mix

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony,

Premium Potting Mix

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

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Very Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

None

Edible(s)

None

Drought Tolerance

Very Good

Frost Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-2 - 0°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Indigenous Use(s)

Wood - Construction, Sap - Fish poison

Wood - Construction,

Sap - Fish poison

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity, Timber

Horticulture - Amenity,

Timber

Maintenance(s)

Pruning - Shaping

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Architectural, Garden-Container, Fruit-decorative, Fruit-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Interesting Buds or Fruit, Irritating-Spines, Screen, Shade tree-Light, Sunny Dry, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Architectural,

Garden-Container,

Fruit-decorative,

Fruit-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Interesting Buds or Fruit,

Irritating-Spines,

Screen,

Shade tree-Light,

Sunny Dry,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Summer

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium, High

Low,

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m, 1,000-1,250m, 1,250-1,500m, 1,500-1,750m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m,

1,000-1,250m,

1,250-1,500m,

1,500-1,750m

Annual Precipitation Range

300mm, 350mm, 400mm, 450mm, 500mm, 550mm, 600mm, 650mm, 700mm, 750mm, 800mm

300mm,

350mm,

400mm,

450mm,

500mm,

550mm,

600mm,

650mm,

700mm,

750mm,

800mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6, FR11

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Light Winds

Poisonous To

Humans, Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Livestock

Humans,

Dogs,

Cats,

Horses,

Cattle,

Sheep,

Goats,

Pigs,

Livestock

Poisonous Parts

Sap

Propagation

Stem Cutting

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.

Propagation Notes

Stem Cutting

Flowering

Winter, Autumn

Cutting

Spring Late, Summer

Material Preparation

Select healthy lengths of stem and cut the sections into 300 - 600mm lengths. Using rubber gloves, wash off the latex from the wounds. Place the cuttings in a warm, indirect lit postion and allow to callous over for 1 - 2 weeks.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Fill the 200 mm pots 3/4 full with mix and firm down. No rooting hormone is required. Place the cutting into pot of mix, fill around the cutting and firm down until the cutting stands firm. Water pot of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep barely moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 18-25° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 8 - 12 weeks

Nursery Stock 8 - 12 weeks

Pot Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand