Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants
Origin
Madagascar
America, Europe
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Clump verbena, Moss verbena, Annual Verbena, Brazilian verbena, Sandpaper Verbana
Number of Varieties
850
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Forest edges, Hillside, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-133-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm6.56 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm10.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Blue, Dark Purple, Light Purple, Red, White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green, Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green, Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Early Spring, Late Autumn
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Fall, Early Summer, Fall, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, 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
Do not water frequently, Medium, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune lower leaves, Prune regularly, Prune to control growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
-
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Arthritis, Asthma, Chest Pain, Itchiness, Whooping Cough
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
Arthritis, Gallbladder Diseases, Itching, Jaundice, Joint pain, Kidney problems, Liver problems, Metabolic disorders, Sore throat, Upset stomach, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics, Decoration Purposes, Economic Purpose, Employed in herbal medicine, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for flavoring in Liquors, dairy products, gelatins,puddings, meats, candies, etc., Used for fragrance
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Bonsai, Container, Edible, Herb
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Purpletop Vervain
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Verbena
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
verbena
In German
Devil's Backbone
Eisenkraut
In French
Backbone du Diable
verveine
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Verbena
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
λουίζα
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
verbena
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
werbena
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Grindelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Lamiales
Family
Crassulaceae
Verbenaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Verbena
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
2000250
1
27800
👆🏻