Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, California, Mexico
Madagascar
Types
Lebombo ironwood, Giant ironwood
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
58
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-129-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
-
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink, Lavender
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Chocolate, Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Gray
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Small oblong
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Transplanting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
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, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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
Red blotch
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Stem
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Carvings, Knife handles
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
Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
OLNEYA tesota
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Ironwood
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
रेगिस्तान आइरनवुड
Devil's Backbone
In German
Wüsteneisenholz
Devil's Backbone
In French
désert Ironwood
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Ironwood desierto
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Ironwood έρημο
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
deserto Ironwood
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
pustynia Ironwood
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
desert ironwood
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Malpighiales
Family
Fabaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Olneya
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Robinieae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
302000
1
27800
👆🏻