Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Herbs
Origin
Madagascar
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
81
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-13-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
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
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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
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 damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pest Free
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Flies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
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
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Devil's Backbone
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Backbone du Diable
Épazote
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Crassulaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
200030
1
27800
👆🏻