Can anyone tell me the name of this plant?

Cheryl Laurent
by Cheryl Laurent
A neighbor gave me cuttings off their plant that appears to be in either the cactus or succulent family. I would love to know what it is. Any ideas?
  47 answers
  • Debbie Pentecost Batey Debbie Pentecost Batey on Jul 28, 2014
    African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona) Paranoiac
  • Teri Tripp-Lanciault Teri Tripp-Lanciault on Jul 28, 2014
    Euforbia trigonia is, I believe, it's proper name. At my nephews Bar Mitzvah, many years ago, they had these on each table with fresh flowers all around the base. It was beautiful!! These grow fast and propagate easily by snapping off a hunk and sticking it in the dirt. (wanna send m a hunk?) LOL
  • Cheryl Laurent Cheryl Laurent on Jul 28, 2014
    Thank Debbie and Teri. I'd be happy to send you a hunk. It grows really fast and is just georgeous.
  • Loretta Loretta on Jul 29, 2014
    Would you please send me a hunk as well??? I live in Canada and how I send plant slips is, I put a wet paper towel around the bottom of the plant then put it in a Ziploc bag with some air then package and send with the words fragile on the package and handle with care, glass. my address is Loretta Friesen box 151 Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada T8V 3A 4 Thanks in advance
    • See 3 previous
    • Cheryl Laurent Cheryl Laurent on Jul 30, 2014
      @Loretta it may take me a while but I will send you a cutting.
  • Mary Blatnik-Smith Mary Blatnik-Smith on Jul 29, 2014
    I think the common name for this is crown of thorns because it gets small red blossoms on it to represent Christ's blood
  • Mary Marishka Mary Marishka on Jul 29, 2014
    Euphorbia. Crown of thorns is different....it has a more aggressive thorn and leaves grow up the entire stem.
  • BibbyKat BibbyKat on Jul 29, 2014
    Euphorbia Lactea .. also called the Candelabra Cactus - False Cactus - Dragon Bones. Not really a true cactus but a member of the Spurge family. It's front Sth Africa. I have one.
  • Renee Scarborough Renee Scarborough on Jul 29, 2014
    Aka: Cathedral Cactus
  • Mssmatch Mssmatch on Jul 29, 2014
    I'll go with euphorbia trigona
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Jul 29, 2014
    We call them Candelabra, but the Latin name is the Euphorbia trigona.
  • Marti Marti on Jul 29, 2014
    take it to a plant nursery, they should be able to help you.
  • JoAnn JoAnn on Jul 29, 2014
    I was told Cathedral cactus. I use to have many of them. Easy to propagate & can get very large if not pruned.
  • RNBOWJESTER76 RNBOWJESTER76 on Jul 29, 2014
    I would love a piece of it if I could get a piece...I can send u my address Randy Kuhlmann 523 Graham Drive Graham, NC 27253-2119 I really would appreciate it if it's not to much to do
  • Judith Thomas De Neville Judith Thomas De Neville on Jul 29, 2014
    Euphorbia .......... keep the milk from the stem away from your skin as it can cause a rash and itching .......
  • Jen R Jen R on Jul 29, 2014
    When in Kenya, we saw them at a park over 2 stories tall! It's exciting to see a house plant in its natural element and what it could be.
  • Margaret Margaret on Jul 29, 2014
    the first one I had grew to the ceiling and was in a half barrel. we loved it.
  • Penny Penny on Jul 29, 2014
    i don't know the name, but i have 2 of them...just luv them! i got my first 2 yrs ago, and the man selling plants at the local feast told me to cut it down in half and just stick the piece i cut back in the dirt and it would fill out...well, in 2 yrs it's like a bush! so, now last yr i bought another one at the feast, and already it's twice its' size....
  • Sherrie devries Sherrie devries on Jul 29, 2014
    Candelabra euphorbis
  • Juanita J Juanita J on Jul 29, 2014
    I looked this plant up in my library and found it to be the milkweed plant, native to Africa, specifically Kenya. I had one too, and wanted to know what it was called. I left it out one winter and it died. Now I know why it thrives in Africa. It's because it's a tropical plant.
  • Laurie Gillette Laurie Gillette on Jul 29, 2014
    Mother of Thousands.
  • Thelma H Thelma H on Jul 29, 2014
    We have one and call it the pregnant plant. It blossoms with orange flowers.
  • Suzanne Wheeler Suzanne Wheeler on Jul 29, 2014
    Euphorbia lactea, common names are African Milk Tree, Candelabra Cactus and Friendship Cactus.
  • Barbara Null Barbara Null on Jul 29, 2014
    someone mentioned crown of thorns, Crown of thorns is a narrower, round stem, with thorns.. lol and small leaves similar to these and they flower with pretty red clusters or white or yellow.. I have the red.
  • Lourie Jenkins Lourie Jenkins on Jul 29, 2014
    alligator cactus
  • Margaret Nystrom Margaret Nystrom on Jul 29, 2014
    It's definitely an African Milk Tree, I had one for years.
  • Bebaxbeb Bebaxbeb on Jul 29, 2014
    muy linda aqui en mexico se da muy bien
  • Ana G. Garcia Ana G. Garcia on Jul 29, 2014
    I just got one at Home Depot... 3 little sticks... I guess it will grow well in So. Florida
    • Peggy Knott Willgus Peggy Knott Willgus on Jul 30, 2014
      It will definately grow...I have one that is over 6' and 2' around. If big is what you're looking for this is it.
  • Jenni C. Jenni C. on Jul 29, 2014
    AKA African milk bush, friendship cactus or candelabra cactus; Euphorbia trigona is not a tree, bush or cactus. A friend just gave me a large cutting from hers.
  • April E April E on Jul 29, 2014
    Euphorbia lactea. Common names are African Milk Tree, Candelabra Plant, Elkhorn. It comes from africa and is a spurge plant from the genus Euphorbiaceae
  • PAT SPENCER PAT SPENCER on Jul 29, 2014
    The pregnant plant has long pointed leaves and the 'babies' grow along the edges of the leaves and wherever they drop, a new plant grows - I thought I had lost mine over the winter but one came up in some old soil
  • Aline Sorrell Aline Sorrell on Jul 29, 2014
    Fish-Bone
  • Jacque Martindale Jacque Martindale on Jul 29, 2014
    it's a euphorbia.
  • Beth Beth on Jul 30, 2014
    That plant is an African Milk Weed plant. It is a succulent and I loved mine very much. But, it didn't do well with my cat and they get very big.
  • Marie Church Marie Church on Jul 30, 2014
    Also called a Tear Drop Cactus.
  • Mary Mary on Jul 30, 2014
    I had one several years ago that was over 3 ft tall. I was told it was and African Milk Cactus, because when you pull off one of the leaves a milky white substance comes out.
  • Nancy Jenkins Nancy Jenkins on Jul 31, 2014
    Just figured out where to reply. I am in Canada, is it legal send me slip? Beautiful plant, miss my late mom's. Couldn't take it with me when moved.
  • Trace Trace on Jul 31, 2014
    I have one that is about 8 ft and one smaller. Let me tell you a story about a cat, ran in my house the other day was scared like crazy. Went up the African Milk cactus over went the cactus. The cat really went crazy went to the top of my Kitchen cabinets knocked my Currier & Ives dishes over 2 fell I caught one the other broke (thank goodness it was just a new one not the old ones, the cat hissed at me and jumped down hit the door running and out. Needless to say the cat ran away. I bet it doesn't try that again. Took me forever to set my cactus back up Only broke one limb off so started another one. i
  • Marlin Kittrell Marlin Kittrell on Jul 31, 2014
    i believe it is a milk tree or cactus
  • Luanne S Luanne S on Aug 01, 2014
    African milk tree cactus
  • Dee Colburn Dee Colburn on Aug 01, 2014
    I have had one & I have always heard it's called a "cathedral cactus"
  • Gu3mom Gu3mom on Aug 02, 2014
    African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona). http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57020/. I have a large, old specimen we call "Tex". ;)
  • Teresa Kilman Teresa Kilman on Aug 16, 2014
    sawblade ugly
    • Mary Bennett Mary Bennett on Oct 27, 2014
      @Teresa Kilman Aw, never seen a plant I didn't love! Nothing that grows naturally is ugly. I even pick weeds in the fall after they have turned brown, & make arrangements from them. I even spray paint some to make them match my decor! I would love to have a piece of this plant! So many are disappearing. So sad.... I am a little old lady, but not one of those that have thousands of plants in my windows! Just love anything that grows or can be used after it's life is over for another purpose.
  • Aida Mendivil Aida Mendivil on Aug 20, 2014
    In our place we call it zorro zorro it is a medicinal plant my mother used it for ear infection. The leaves placed on top of a fire for a while when it became soft you squeze it and the juice use a dropper to place it in minimal amount in your infected ear
  • Teri Tripp-Lanciault Teri Tripp-Lanciault on Oct 19, 2014
    Cheryl, I tried to message you but we have to follow each other. I just (oct 19) got notified that you commented about sending me a hunk. If it still applies, follow me and I will send you my addy and such. Thanks so much!
  • Loretta Loretta on Oct 21, 2014
    Someone here said they would send me a slip of this plant. I sure do hope I get it in the mail soon. The person has my address already.
  • Joanne Poe Joanne Poe on Oct 27, 2014
    Cathedral cactus
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Oct 28, 2014
    I was told it was a Candelabra......................