Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Madagascar
Russia/Siberia
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Shrub
Number of Varieties
83
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Cold Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-134-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
7-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm2,330.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Dark Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Purple, Sienna, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Scale-like imbricate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Water during dry weather, Water occasionally
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
-
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
-
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used for bedding in gardens
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Alpine, Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
MICROBIOTA decussata
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Microbiota, Siberian carpet cypress, Russian arbor vitae
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
माइक्रोबायोटा
In German
Devil's Backbone
Mikrobiota
In French
Backbone du Diable
microbiote
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
microbiota
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
μικροχλωρίδας
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
microbiota
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
mikroflory
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Microbiota
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Pinales
Family
Crassulaceae
Cupressaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Microbiota
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
20001
1
27800
👆🏻