Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Shrub
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Madagascar
Africa, Southern Africa
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Drakensberg sugarbush, Clanwilliam sugarbush, The Wagon tree
Number of Varieties
81600
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1310-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-8
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm91.44 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall, Spring
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
-
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
-
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
All year
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Requires a lot of watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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
Pinch Tips, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
-
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
-
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Flying insects, Insects
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Cough, Diarrhea, Stomach Ulcers
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
PROTEA
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Protea, Waboom, Wagon Tree
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Protea plant
In German
Devil's Backbone
Protea Pflanze
In French
Backbone du Diable
usine de Protea
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
planta de protea
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
φυτό Protea
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
planta Protea
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Protea roślin
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Protea herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Vascular plant
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Proteales
Family
Crassulaceae
Proteaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Protea
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Proteae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Proteoideae
Number of Species
20001600
1
27800
👆🏻