Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants, Grass, Shrubs
Origin
Madagascar
Central America, North America
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Perennial
Number of Varieties
84
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Temperate Regions, tropical environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-137-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm50.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Pink, Red, White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Black, Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall, Late Summer, Mid Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Slightly Acidic, Slightly Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Fall, Late Summer, Mid Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Do not water excessively
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Slightly Acidic, Slightly Alkaline
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
Cut back old stems to the ground
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
as it is a flowering plant, use high phosphorous content fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Slugs
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Butterflies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes, small hedge
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
-
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Purgative, Vulnerary
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Edible dye
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation, Wildflower
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Mirabilis jalapa
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
marvel of peru, four o'clock flower
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Mirabilis jalapa
In German
Devil's Backbone
Wunderblume
In French
Backbone du Diable
Belle-de-nuit
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Dondiego de noche
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
mirabilis Jalapa
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Maravilha
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
mirabilis Jalapa
In Latin
Narum diaboli
mirabilis Ja-
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Crassulaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Mirabilis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
200060
1
27800
👆🏻