Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Euphorbia ingens
Candelabra Tree
The Euphorbia ingens is a tree built entirely out of succulent stem. Known as the Candelabra Tree, it rises from southern and eastern Africa on a short woody trunk into a crown of four and five-angled green branches that curve upward in tiers, carrying paired short spines along their ridges and almost no leaf at all.
At 6 to 12 metres it is one of the few genuinely architectural specimens available for a desert scheme, holding its form through drought that would defeat a conventional tree.
Specifications
- Height6 to 12 metres, occasionally to 15 metres
- Width3 to 6 metres
- Native toSouthern and eastern Africa
- FoliageEffectively leafless; four to five-angled succulent green stems with paired spines along the ridges
- Growth rateSlow to moderate
Conditions
- SoilRequires sharply drained sandy or rocky soils; rots in heavy or waterlogged ground
- LightFull sun
- WaterVery low; highly drought-tolerant once established
- ClimateThrives in arid, semi-arid and subtropical savanna regions
Additional Features
- FormShort trunk carrying a tiered candelabra crown of upswept angular branches
- FlowersSmall yellow-green cyathia carried along the ridges of the stems
- UsesIdeal for desert and xeric landscapes, architectural feature planting, and large rockeries
- SpacingPlant 3 to 5 metres apart to let the branching structure be read
- Low MaintenanceRequires essentially no routine care in a suitable climate
- Pest ResistanceGenerally robust where drainage is sharp
- Drought ToleranceStores water in the stems and holds condition through extended drought
- ToxicityExudes copious white latex that is severely irritant to skin and eyes; handle with protection and site away from public access
The Candelabra Tree gives an arid scheme a genuine vertical structure where a conventional canopy tree could not survive.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026