Euphorbia Ammak

If you’ve watched a couple of Western movies, you’ve probably seen the Euphorbia Ammak plant, even if you didn’t know it then. It is one of those plants that you typically associate with arid areas.

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E.Ammak (or the African Candelabra) has an erect stem that ends in several “branches,” all pointing upwards – as arms stretched out to welcome the sun.

Native to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Euphorbia Ammak is a low-maintenance, hardy plant that can endure some of the harshest, driest conditions the desert has to offer.

As an evergreen succulent, you will surely enjoy its beauty all year round.

STEM

E.Ammak (or African Candelabra) is a tall, desert-oriented succulent that can grow up to 8 to 10 meters.

Considering its sheer height, the E.Ammak needs a pretty strong stem to hold it firmly in place, minimizing the risk of it toppling over.

Luckily, the African Candelabra has a stout and erect variegated stem/trunk with a width of up to 1 foot (12cm).

BRANCHES

The African Candelabras stem gives way to thick, ribbed, fleshy branches growing at an upward tangent.

Each branch features 4-winged ribs and sport dark-brown, horn-shaped, 1cm spines.

These prickly spines run along the wavy edge of each rib.

Euphorbia Ammak features three primary color schemes:

1. Glossy dark green
2. Creamy yellow
3. Pale light-green

The plant may feature one particular color scheme or take on an artistic blend of two or more colors, e.g., dark green branches with yellow-tinged ribs.

FLOWERS

During early summer, the plant produces green capsules that then blossom into flowers. These flowers are small (1cm) and range between pale white and green, and they are not of much significance when it comes to the beauty of the Euphorbia Ammak.

‘Euphorbia Ingens’ looks similar to Euphorbia Ammak. Make sure to check it out!

FRUIT OF EUPHORBIA AMMAK

The fruits are green, have a capacity inside, and have a three-millimeter diameter. Unlike the spined stem, the fruits are smooth and grow in clusters of two or three. Contain the plant’s seeds are the main form of seed dispersal. When fruits are ripe and the seeds ready, the fruit bursts open, scattering the seeds across the plant.

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LEARN HOW TO GROW THE EUPHORBIA AMMAK

LIGHT

Supply the Euphorbia Ammak with full direct sunlight, which will reward you by staying strong and healthy all year round.  If the area does not get sun throughout, then a little shade will not harm your plant.

If you choose to grow the plant on your verandah, it can quickly adapt to some bright indirect light.

TEMPERATURE

The Euphorbia Ammak is a tough plant and enjoys temperatures that range between 16°C and 29°C.  This ranges from moderate temperatures to hot.

WATER

The Euphorbia Ammak is a desert plant that has developed a very efficient water retention method. Water the plant, the Euphorbia Ammak gulps up what it needs and then takes in even more, to store in its fleshy branches.

The reservoir store (stem and branches) releases water to keep the plant thriving during drought. So, if you forget to water the plant for some time, there is no need to fret – it will self-sustain for a while.

Ideally, you should water the plant when the soil is drying up. This will happen more frequently during the hot season and less during the cooler months.

Take a pinch of soil; if it feels dry, you can water the plant. Remember, too much water leads to root rot and the potential end of your plant.

SOIL

Good drainage is the primary concern when looking for the ideal soil type for the Euphorbia Ammak plant. This plant can be pretty lenient and isn’t fussy about the pH of the soil. All the Euphorbia Ammak requires is that the ground receives adequate aeration wet and has reliable drainage properties.

Learn how to DIY your planting soil at home: How To Make Your Succulent Soil At Home.

PRUNING

Pruning involves removing dead, injured branches of this plant to keep it looking fresh and beautiful. It is also a way of controlling the plant’s growth. Thus, if you have planted it on a hedge and don’t want it to reach ten meters, you keep pruning branches to keep the tree low.

It is critical to remember that no matter your Euphorbia Ammok’s size, always put on protective gear when pruning it. Cover your eyes and skin and have gloves for your hands for both the sap and avoid injuries from the huge spines on the plant’s stem. You can quickly stop the sap from flowing by spraying the injured part with cold water.

The best time to prune is at the end of winter or the beginning of spring. This allows the plant to enter the growing season soon after pruning and recover from its injuries quickly.

PROPAGATION

Euphorbia Ammak has three propagation methods: seeds, cuttings, and vegetative. If you enjoy a good challenge, you can try the seed method, which takes a long time and is not always successful. Even when the plant is growing wild, the seeds very rarely germinate.

The Euphorbia Ammak is a top-heavy plant – the branches at the top are sometimes so heavy for the stem/trunk forcing the top to break off. If it falls on healthy soil, it will settle and grow into a plant.

PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS

Cuttings are another sure way of propagating the Euphorbia Ammak. Of the three methods, this is the most reliable. Care, however, must be taken when using this method. The period between late Spring and mid-Summer is the best for this as it gives the plant enough time to heal itself before going dormant for the fall and winter.

Before you embark on getting the cuttings, make sure you have a pair of gardening gloves and some eye protection. That way, you do not risk being poked by the spines or even coming into contact with the poisonous sap produced by the plant when you cut into it.

Measure 6 inches below where the arms are growing and using a long, sharp knife, cut across the stem/trunk, making a clean cut. To prevent the exposed parts of the plant from a bacterial or viral infection, spray them with weak hydrogen peroxide and water solution.

The main plant should be kept in a cool place away from direct sun until scabbed over the cut part. This may involve placing a loose cover over it if you can’t move the plant. When the scab forms, you can put it back in its natural habitat.

Rinse the cutting with cold water and put it aside to also scab, after which you can safely plant it on the mound of soil you had prepared. If you find the cutting too weak to support itself, tie it to a stake until it roots. Rooting takes a period ranging from a few weeks to several months.

FERTILIZATION

It is not necessary to fertilize the Euphorbia Ammak. If you want to do so as a precaution, you can fertilize the plant every two weeks. The best time to fertilize your plant is during the growing period, and a dilute liquid solution is adequate.

REPOTTING

Classified as a fast grower, the Euphorbia Ammak may be a little challenging to know when to report. A few indicators that the plant will give you when it needs a more prominent place to grow:

• Not staying upright.
• Slow growth.
• Roots growing above the soil.
• Withered parts along the trunk even though the plant has enough water.

For best results, choose a planter that is 2 inches bigger than the original pot. Because of the top-heavy aspect of the plant, select a farmer that has a broad base for greater support. Your plant should be good for another three years. It’s important to remember that a big pot can cause the plant to undergo stress!

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PESTS & DISEASES

The harsh conditions of the plant’s natural environment have made the Euphorbia Ammak a highly resistant plant to many common pests and diseases. The three primary conditions to look out for are:

• sunburn, which presents itself as rough scabs or brown patches. They are permanent but will not affect the growth of the plant.
• Root rot or over-watering, which shows up as soft mushy brown areas. To save the plant, cut off as much of the rotten, mushy bottom as you need, then replant the healthy part of the plant.
• Mildew appears as a white powder on the plant’s surface. You can quickly eliminate mold using a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution. To avoid reoccurrence, refrain from spraying the plant with water.

EUPHORBIA AMMAK AND TOXICITY

As mentioned earlier, the sap in this plant is poisonous, and you should avoid contact with the skin at all costs. The fluid can cause a painful rash when it comes into contact with the skin, so we highly recommend wearing thick gloves and protective eye gear when working with this plant. Because of its toxic quality, you should keep the Euphorbia Ammak plant out of the reach of children and pets.

Before conclusion, …

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FINAL WORD

Like many other plants in the Euphorbia family, this plant is easy to manage. Its gigantic size limits where you can display its beauty because keeping it indoors is difficult. The size also means that you can’t move it indoors if the weather conditions become unsuitable in a particular season. This limitation means that you can only plant your Euphorbia ammak in a zone where outdoor conditions support its growth.