Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
Madagascar
Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Erysimum franciscanum
Number of Varieties
850
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
gardens, Grassland, Prairies
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-137-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
9-7
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Mat-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Pale White, Pale Yellow, Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Linear
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
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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
Cut or pinch the stems, Do not prune during shooting season, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune prior to new growth, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Insects, 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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, 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
Leaves, Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Alpine, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Erysimum franciscanum
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Franciscan wallflower, San Francisco wallflower
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Franciscan wallflower
In German
Devil's Backbone
Franziskaner Mauerblümchen
In French
Backbone du Diable
wallflower franciscaine
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
alhelí franciscana
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Φραγκισκανών wallflower
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
wallflower Franciscan
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
wallflower Franciszkanów
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Francisci Wallflower
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Brassicales
Family
Crassulaceae
Brassicaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Erysimum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
200050
1
27800
👆🏻