Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Tree
Number of Varieties
815
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Hills, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-133-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
9-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm-
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm6.10 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Red, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Light Green, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Light Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oblong or Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Salt
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
Medium
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
Loam
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
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
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Antiseptic, cathartic, Cough, Indigestion
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Leaves, Seeds, Wood
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Animal Feed, Roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making wood alcohol, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
GLEDITSIA triacanthos f. inermis
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Thornless Honeylocust
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
thornless honeylocust
In German
Devil's Backbone
thornless honeylocust
In French
Backbone du Diable
thornless Honeylocust
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
honeylocust sin espinas
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
thornless honeylocust
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
honeylocust thornless
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
thornless honeylocust
In Latin
Narum diaboli
thornless honeylocust
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Fabales
Family
Crassulaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Gleditsia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
200020
1
27800
👆🏻