Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Trees
Origin
Madagascar
China, Korea
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Sophora japonica
Number of Varieties
810
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Humid climates, Loamy soils, Low annual rainfall regions, Wet ground, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-135-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
9-5
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 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
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White, Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Yellow, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
occasional watering once established, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Less Watering
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Drought Tolerant
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune when young, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Leaf spot, Red blotch, Woodpecker feeding
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Soil Compaction
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
Bees, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Eczema, Nausea, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Bouquets, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Nourishes scalp, Restores Hair Colour, Stops hair loss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Forms dense stands, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Diuretic, Fever, Muscle Pain, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as a laxative, Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
SOPHORA japonica
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Chinese Scholartree, Japanese Pagoda
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Gobur champ
In German
Devil's Backbone
Japanischer Schnurbaum
In French
Backbone du Diable
Styphnolobium japonicum
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Styphnolobium japonicum
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Styphnolobium japonicum
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Styphnolobium japonicum
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Perełkowiec japoński
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Styphnolobium japonicum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Fabales
Family
Crassulaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Styphnolobium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Sophoreae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
200020
1
27800
👆🏻