Candelabra tree

Candelabra tree Care

Euphorbia cooperi

What is the plant

Euphorbia cooperi, also called Transvaal candelabra tree or bushveld candelabra euphorbia, is a plant species found in South Africa. This succulent tree grown up to 7 m tall and has conspicuous candelabra-like branches.

Euphorbia cooperi is a spiny, succulent tree 4-7 m tall, with conspicuous candelabra-like branches. The branches do not split again, unlike the common tree Euphorbia. Old dead branches hang underneath the compact crown for a while. Over time all lower branches shed in a continual process leaving the top branches to accentuate the candelabra form. The solitary trunk is naked, straight, grey to dark grey or brown with a gnarled appearance up to 5 m high. Round holes on the trunk indicate where old branches have fallen off. Branches are bright green or yellow-green even thought times of drought, conspicuously 4 to 6 winged with characteristic narrowing and widening and rounded tops. The spines form a spiky margin along each ridge on the branches. Spines are found in pairs and are usually 5 to 7(-15) mm long.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

min 9b

Difficulty

Hard

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water regularly during the active growing season from March to September. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. Keep almost completely dry in winter.
Fertilizer
To feed the plant, dilute a balanced fertilizer - 10-10-10 formula - to quarter strength. Apply the diluted fertilizer to the soil around the euphorbia once a week during its growing season. Continue fertilizing the euphorbia once a week until it enters its dormant period, which is when the days are shorter and the weather begins to cool.
Sunlight
Choose a place in full sun, however, the plant can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Give the plant an airy growing medium which mainly consists of non organic material such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould.
Temperature
“Candelabra Tree” is not cold hardy. If the temperature gets colder than 30°F (-1.1°C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. Inside, room temperatures of around 65°F/16°C - 75°F/24°C will suffice.
Container
This plant can be grown in a container. Choose a large pot with enough drainage holes.