This is located in southern CA.

I want to say Euphorbia but.... Has it ever bloomed? when you break a leaf, does white milky sap come out?

No flowers, just leaves. Saw it in the neighborhood and trying to find out what it is.

It reminds me a bit of my African Milk Bush (Euphorbia bicompacta var. rubra)

Two forms of Synadenium grantii, one 'rubra'. Note that one has green leaves.

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

http://www.succulents.us/synad...

We need photos! It's under Euphorbia here.

African Milk Bush (Euphorbia grantii 'Rubrum')

Thanks for solving the case!

The photo here looks like my plant: http://www.shrublandparknurser... but I get so confused with plants and their names. When I got my plant @ 8 years ago it was labeled Synadenium grantii 'Rubrum' but someone told me the correct name was Euphorbia bicompacta var. rubra. If my plant is in a shady location the leaves are mostly green but when located in full sun they turn shades of red. These are older photos of my plant which now is pretty scraggly looking plant due to lack of good light and proper care. The last picture was taken at night with a flash.

So, I'm wondering if Euphorbia grantii var. rubra and Euphorbia grantii Rubrum are one and the same?

You're welcome kimpeito.

Lin, what I found is confusing. There is another plant, which is similar to yours and which is similar to Euphorbia grantii, it doesn't appear to have the leaf scars on the stems and as you say it changes colour according to sun or not.

On the Plant List, Synadenium grantii Hook.f. is a synonym of Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

I checked on the Catalogue of life,Synadenium grantii Hook.f. is a synonym of Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) ined.

http://www.catalogueoflife.org...

Euphorbia grantii Oliv. is accepted on the CoL. where Synadenium grantii Hook.f. is a synonym.

http://www.catalogueoflife.org...

Euphorbia grantii Oliv. is accepted on the CoL. (another entry but no mention of synonym Synadenium grantii Hook.f)

http://www.catalogueoflife.org...

Euphorbia grantii Oliv. is also accepted on The Plant List.

http://www.theplantlist.org/tp...

Euphorbia grantii - Synadenium grantii comes up in a search for Euphorbia grantii ..

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

Euphorbia umbellata on google comes up with a plant which looks like yours .. and it's being given Synadenium grantii as a synonym! The leaves vary between green and red with splashes of red. That looks to be consistent, where a search for Euphorbia grantii generally comes up with the plant with leaf scars and either red or green leaves some of which are named Synadenium grantii f. rubrum. I would say the "f. rubrum" is the scientific name as a "rubrum" form of the species, with "Rubrum" being a name given for the purposes of selling at nurseries as often is the case (people like given names).

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

There could be some mixing up and confusion between these plants but the "Rubrum" form is in the plant files.