Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
Eastern Asia
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Ulmus chumlia, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus elongata
Number of Varieties
835
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
River side
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-135-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
9-5
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Tan, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Yellow, Red, Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Toothed
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
-
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove shoots
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Mealybugs, Red blotch, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
allergic reaction
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Bonsai, Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Antidote, Demulcent, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Fruits, Inner Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as firewood, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in construction, Used in Furniture, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood is used for ship building, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
ULMUS parvifolia 'Drake'
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Chinese Elm, Drake Elm
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
चीनी एल्म
In German
Devil's Backbone
Chinese Elm
In French
Backbone du Diable
Elm chinoise
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
olmo chino
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Κινέζοι Elm
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Elm chinês
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Chiński Elm
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Chinese Elm
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Rosales
Family
Crassulaceae
Ulmaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Ulmus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Ulmeae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
200035
1
27800
👆🏻