Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Madagascar
Types
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
38
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-159-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Broad, Unlobed
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
THEOBROMA cacao
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
कोको संयंत्र
Devil's Backbone
In German
Kakaopflanze
Devil's Backbone
In French
usine de cacao
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
planta del cacao
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
φυτό του κακάο
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
planta do cacau
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Kakao roślin
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Cocos herba
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malvales
Malpighiales
Family
Sterculiaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Theobroma
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Theobromeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Byttneroideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
222000
1
27800
👆🏻