Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Madagascar
Northeastern United States, North-Central United States, Alaska, Canada
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Oriental spruce, Bog spruce, Weeping spruce
Number of Varieties
88
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Moist Soils, Slopes, Swamps, Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-131-6
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
6-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
Habit
Upright/Erect
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm3,000.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Sea Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Needle like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Pinch Tips, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Birds
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Dermatitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
anti-inflammatory, Disinfectant, Kidney problems, Odontalgic, Poultice, Salve, Stomachic, tuberculosis, Vulnerary
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Disinfectant, Gum, Paper pulp, Pitch, String, Used as a dye, Used in paper industry, Waterproofing
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Bog Garden, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
PICEA mariana
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Black Spruce, Bog Spruce, Swamp Spruce
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Black Spruce Tree
In German
Devil's Backbone
Schwarz Fichte
In French
Backbone du Diable
Noir Épicéa
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Negro árbol de abeto
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Μαύρο Spruce Tree
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Árvore Spruce Preto
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Czarny Świerk Drzewo
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Niger abiegnis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Coniferophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Pinales
Family
Crassulaceae
Pinaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Picea
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Pinoideae
Number of Species
200035
1
27800
👆🏻