Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Shrub
Origin
Africa
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
18
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
along watercourse, Banks, Barren waste areas
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99999-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-4
-
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Prostrate/Trailing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Yellow green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Reduce watering once fruit are growing, Water in the early morning hours
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
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Cucumber beetles, Fusarium wilt
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Nausea
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Hair Conditioner, Stops hair loss
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antitussive, Digestive, Diuretic, Emetic, Febrifuge, Stomachic
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
For making oil for cosmetics
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, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCUMIS melo 'Burpees Early Hybrid'
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Crenshaw Melon
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
खरबूजा
Devil's Backbone
In German
Zuckermelone
Devil's Backbone
In French
Melon
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Crenshaw Melon
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Crenshaw Melon
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Crenshaw Melon
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Crenshaw Melon
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Crenshaw Melon
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cucurbitales
Malpighiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
12000
1
27800
👆🏻