Euphorbia excelsaTree Euphorbia

Euphorbia excelsa is one of the tree euphorbias of southeastern Africa, building a rounded candelabra crown of four-angled to five-angled succulent branches on a single woody trunk. It carries no leaves for most of the year, so the plant reads as pure green architecture against the sky.

It belongs in hot dry landscapes as a specimen: arid gardens, gravel courtyards and the kind of exposed frontage where nothing else of that scale will hold.

Specifications

• Height8 to 15 metres
• Width4 to 6 metres
• Native toSoutheastern Africa, in Zimbabwe and Mozambique
• FoliageEffectively leafless; four-angled to five-angled succulent green branches carry the photosynthesis
• Growth rateSlow to moderate

Conditions

• SoilRequires sharply drained gravelly or rocky soils
• LightFull sun
• WaterLow; drought-tolerant once established
• ClimateThrives in hot dry subtropical and semi-arid regions and is frost-sensitive

Additional Features

• FormCandelabra crown of succulent branches on a single stout trunk
• UsesIdeal for arid feature planting, xeriscape schemes and architectural accents in hot dry landscapes
• SpacingPlant 4 to 6 metres apart so each crown reads separately
• Low MaintenanceRequires no routine pruning; remove damaged branches only
• Pest ResistanceGenerally pest-free where drainage is sharp
• Drought ToleranceHolds condition through extended rainless periods
• ToxicityThe milky latex is highly caustic and can injure eyes and skin; handle with protection

The Tree Euphorbia is a sculptural specimen for hot dry ground, and it wants nothing more than drainage and sun.