Life Span
Perennial
-
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
China
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
Camellia sinensis var. assamica
Number of Varieties
82
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Hillside, Mountain Slopes, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-137-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
8-5
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Black
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
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Keep ground moist, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires a lot of watering, Water when soil is dry
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
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Generally pruned to waist height, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Caterpillars, Moth, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
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
Diabetes, High cholestrol, Kidney Stones, Parkinson
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Leaves
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Preferably used as black tea, Used for producing cooking oil, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CAMELLIA sinensis
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Tea, Tea Camellia
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
चाय के पौधे
In German
Devil's Backbone
Teepflanze
In French
Backbone du Diable
usine de thé
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
planta del té
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
φυτό του τσαγιού
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
planta do chá
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Herbata roślin
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Tea herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Ericales
Family
Crassulaceae
Theaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Camellia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
20001
1
27800
👆🏻