Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Number of Varieties
820
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-139-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-9
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm760.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm17.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Butterfly shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
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, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply N-P-K
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Birds
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Carminative, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
BAUHINIA purpurea
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Butterfly tree
In German
Devil's Backbone
Schmetterlings- Baum
In French
Backbone du Diable
arbre de papillon
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
árbol de la mariposa
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
δέντρο πεταλούδα
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
árvore borboleta
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
drzewo Butterfly
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Gloria ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Fabales
Family
Crassulaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Bauhinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Cercideae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
2000500
1
27800
👆🏻