Candelabrum Cactus

Candelabrum Cactus (Euphorbia eritrea) is the plant to reach for when a garden needs vertical structure and almost no water. It grows to around 4m tall but only about 1.5m wide, sending up ribbed green columns that branch into the candelabra shape the name describes. Despite the name it is not a true cactus but a succulent euphorbia, which matters for how you handle it.

Why you'll love it

• Height in a narrow footprint. Four metres of presence from a plant barely 1.5m across.
• It asks for almost nothing. Drought and heat tolerant and comfortable in poor soil, so a hot western wall suits it.
• Green all year. The stems are the plant, so there is no leaf drop and no bare season.
• Reads as sculpture. The strong verticals suit modern courtyards, gravel gardens and paired entry pots.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One plant against a rendered wall carries a whole courtyard, and the shadow it throws in afternoon light is half the appeal.

Pots and containers. A heavy pot with sharp draining mix gives control over winter conditions.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Set through gravel with agaves and low succulents, it gives dry gardens the height they lack.

Growing Candelabrum Cactus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and free air movement, in tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid or semi-arid gardens. It is frost tender, so in cool districts grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover, or against a warm north facing wall.

Soil. Sharp drainage is the whole game. In the ground, plant on a raised mound with coarse sand or gravel worked through. In pots, a cactus and succulent mix, never a moisture retaining one.

Water and feed. Water only when the soil has dried right through, roughly fortnightly in hot weather and rarely in winter. A light feed of low nitrogen fertiliser once in spring is plenty.

Pruning. Rarely needed, and only to remove a damaged stem or limit height. Wear gloves and eye protection: cut stems bleed a milky sap that badly irritates skin and eyes. Rinse any contact immediately.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: a 200mm pot sold as a pack of six, and a single 400mm plant. The 200mm plants are young unbranched columns, good for a group or a row through gravel. The 400mm arrives established, which matters because this is a slow grower and buying height saves years.

Plants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect little movement for the first few months, then steady summer growth. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full cacti range
• Succulents that handle hot, dry positions
• Architectural plants for designed gardens
• Low maintenance cacti for a front facade

Common questions

Is the sap dangerous?

Treat it seriously. The milky sap is a strong skin and eye irritant and the plant is toxic if chewed, so it is not marked pet friendly and it does not belong beside a path where children brush past.

Will it survive frost?

It is frost tender. In gardens that get regular frost, grow it in a pot and move it under a verandah or into a bright shed for winter.

How big will it really get?

About 4m tall and 1.5m wide in most Australian gardens, though in a warm frost free position it can exceed 6m over many years.