Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Vegetable
Origin
Madagascar
Central America, Mexico, North America
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Neck, Really Big Hybrid, Waltham
Number of Varieties
85
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-139-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Prostrate/Trailing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm7.62 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Yellow, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Peach, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires regular 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
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 out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove the old foliage
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Balanced organic fertilizer, iron-rich fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phosphate
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Dry root rot, Fusarium leaf spot, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Full Sun, Shade areas, Shallow soil
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
Ants, Bees
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Dermatitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Glowing Skin, Good for skin and hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Cardiovascular problems, cholesterol-lowering, constipation, Diabetes, Fiber, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Immunity, Manganese, Obesity, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
For making oil, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CUCURBITA pepo 'White Crown of Thorns'
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Winter Squash
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
कोंहड़ा
In German
Devil's Backbone
Winter squash
In French
Backbone du Diable
courges d'hiver
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
calabaza de invierno
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
σκουός χειμώνα
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
abóbora
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
dynia
In Latin
Narum diaboli
cucurbita
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Violales
Family
Crassulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Papilionoideae
Number of Species
200027
1
27800
👆🏻