you are looking for a low maintenance addition to a rock or suulent
garden this large cactus-like tree is ideal. It is well suited to
dry areas and is very attractive with its dark green trunk, yellow
to yellow-green flowers and dark red to purple fruits.
An upright, succulent tree with a dark green crown which is well
rounded and often shaped like a hot-air balloon. Grows up to 12
m. The branches are segmented with spines running along the ridges
of the segments. It produces small, greenish yellow flowers on the
ridges of the topmost segment of every branch from autumn to winter.
The fruit, a round 3-lobed capsule, turns red to purple when ripening.
© G. Nichols
This tree prefers warm areas and can survive in areas that go through
long periods of drought or are generally very dry. It usually grows
on rocky outcrops or in deep sand within bushveld vegetation. Distributed
throughout KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Limpopo Province, Gauteng,
North-West Province, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and further into tropical
Derivation of name and historical aspects
This family of plants contains herbs, shrubs, trees and succulents.
The plants often contain a milky latex or sap that can be extremely
harmful. According to Leistner (2000) it contains over 300 genera
and over 5 000 species of which 50 genera and 484 species are found
in southern Africa. Euphorbia was named after Euphorbus,
a 1st century physician to King Juba of Mauritania. The species
name ingens means huge.
flowers attract butterflies, bees and other insects, which collect
pollen and nectar from them, pollinating the trees in the process.
The seeds are a good source of food for many fruit and berry eating
birds. Birds also like nesting in these trees; hole-nesting birds
such as woodpeckers often use dead sections.
Uses and cultural aspects
The latex of this tree is extremely toxic and can cause severe skin
irritations, blindness and severe illness to humans and animals
if swallowed. It is said that cattle driven through these plants
can be so severely affected that they have to be put down. If correctly
applied it can be medicinally used as a purgative or for the treatment
of ulcers. It is said to be used by the Venda and Sotho people as
a cure for cancer. Branches are used as a fish poison in South Africa
and Zimbabwe. The wood from the main trunk is light and tough and
is used to make doors, planks and boats. A fire is made around the
tree before it is cut down to set the sap.
© G. Nichols
Growing Euphorbia ingens
plants are easy to grow and make a wonderful addition to a succulent
garden or rockery. As it is a succulent it needs little to no maintenance,
being a very hardy plant. It does best in the open sun, needing
very little water and can therefore withstand periods of drought.
Because of its poisonous latex/sap no pests seem to bother these
Please note that though these plants are suitable for gardens,
they should not be planted where small children will be playing,
as they contain a milky latex/sap that is very harmful if it comes
into contact with the skin or eyes and if ingested.
Other euphorbias that can be considered or planted as companion
plants to Euphorbia ingens are E. tirucalli (rubber
euphorbia) and E. grandidens (valley-bush euphorbia).
References and further reading
- Botha, C. & Botha, J. 1995. Bring nature back to your
garden. Kohler Carton & Print, Pinetown.
- Leistner, O.A. (ed.). 2000. Seed plants of southern Africa:
families and genera. Strelitzia 10. National Botanical
- Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. 2002. Trees
and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana,
Van Wyk, B-E. & Gericke, N. 2000. People's plants. A guide
to useful plants of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
- Van Wyk, B-E., Van Oudtshoorn, B. & Gericke, N. 1997. Medicinal
plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
- Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to trees
of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
Lou-Nita Le Roux
Lowveld National Botanical Garden