Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, China, Melanesia, Australia
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Ceiba casearia, Bombax pentandrum
Number of Varieties
810
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-139-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-7
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, H2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,830.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm1,830.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Red, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Palmate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
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, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
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
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacterial leaf spot, Red blotch, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, 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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Headache, Pulmonary oedema, Respiratory distress, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Improve skin tone, Making cosmetics, Moisturizing, Skin irritation
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Aphrodisiac, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Oil is used as an industrial solvent, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Ceiba pentandra
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Cotton Tree, Red Kapok, Red-silk-cotton Tree
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
सफ़ेद सेमल / शाल्मली
In German
Devil's Backbone
Kapok baum
In French
Backbone du Diable
Fromager
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Ceiba
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Ceiba
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Mafumeira
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Puchowiec pięciopręcikowy
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Ceiba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Malvales
Family
Crassulaceae
Bombacaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Ceiba
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
200010
1
27800
👆🏻