Expert: Jeff - 3/23/2003

Question
We had a cactus that grew upright to about six feet. Unfortunately it died this winter. This was a gift years ago and we have been unable to find any information on it. What made it so unusual was the fact that at the very top it grew leaves. Can you give me any help in figuring out what type of cactus this was?

Answer
Dear Larry,

Very few true cacti grow to that height and have leaves - I suspect you had a plant from the Euphorbia family, many of which grow very similarly to some columnar cactu species. I would gues your plant could have been Euphorbia ingens, though there are a number of other Euphorbias that have columnar growth habits.

Regards,

Jeff