The Candelabra Tree is a striking and unique succulent plant, immediately recognizable by its distinctive form. Its common name directly reflects its branching structure, which evokes the image of an ornate candelabra. Its sculptural silhouette and robust nature invite a deeper exploration into its characteristics and background.
Understanding the Candelabra Tree
The Candelabra Tree, scientifically known as Euphorbia ingens, belongs to the diverse Euphorbiaceae family. It is a succulent, meaning it has adapted to store water in its thick tissues, differing from true cacti despite a similar appearance. Other common names for Euphorbia ingens include common tree Euphorbia, naboom, and cowboy cactus, reflecting its unique shape and regional recognition. The plant features robust, segmented stems that are typically dark green, sometimes developing a grayish hue with age. These stems are often four or five-lobed and grow vertically, contributing to its columnar and branching habit.
Natural Environment and Origin
Indigenous to a wide area across Southern and Eastern Africa, the Candelabra Tree’s native range extends through countries such as Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. It thrives in arid and semi-arid environments, demonstrating its resilience in challenging conditions. This succulent is commonly found in dry bushveld, open woodlands, and savannas, often rooting on rocky outcrops or deep within sandy soils. Its natural habitat experiences high temperatures, intense sunlight, and low rainfall, to which the plant has developed robust adaptations.
Growth Patterns and Appearance
In its native habitat, the Candelabra Tree can achieve impressive heights, reaching up to 40 feet (12 meters) tall, though indoor specimens typically grow to 8 to 10 feet. Its growth habit involves a thick, woody trunk that develops over time, from which numerous upright, uniquely segmented and articulated branches emerge, creating the plant’s iconic candelabra-like silhouette. The Candelabra Tree exhibits a moderate growth rate and can live for several decades, even up to a century, in optimal natural conditions. Small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers appear on the branch tips, especially during fall and winter, followed by three-lobed, reddish-purple fruits.
Toxicity and Handling Precautions
Like many species in the Euphorbiaceae family, the Candelabra Tree produces a milky white sap, or latex, that is toxic. Contact with this sap can lead to significant hazards, including severe skin irritation, blistering, and temporary or even permanent blindness if it enters the eyes. Ingestion of the sap can cause severe illness, including digestive issues and internal inflammation. When handling the plant, particularly during pruning or repotting, it is important to wear protective gloves and eye protection to prevent exposure. Keeping this plant out of reach of children and pets is also advised to ensure their safety.
Cultural and Practical Uses
The Candelabra Tree is widely appreciated for its ornamental value, especially in landscaping and xeriscaping, due to its unique architectural form. It serves as a striking specimen plant in arid gardens or can be grown in large containers. In its native regions, the plant has traditional uses, such as being cultivated as a living fence due to its imposing size and deterrent sap. Historically, its branches have also been used as a fish poison in some areas, and the sap was traditionally applied in certain medicinal practices, such as for purgatives or ulcers. However, self-medication is not recommended due to the sap’s extreme toxicity. The tree also plays a role in its ecosystem, with its flowers attracting butterflies, bees, and other insects for pollination, and its seeds providing food for birds, which also use the trees for nesting.