Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbaceous Perennial
Shrub
Origin
China, Japan, Korea
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
158
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, meadows, Shady Edge, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-4
-
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Yellow, Ivory
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water once every two or three weeks
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove the old foliage
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Use a fertilizer ratio of 16-4-8
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Poultice
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Stem
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Used as umbrellas by Japanese children, Used as walking sticks, Used like rhubarb
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PETASITES japonicus
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Giant Butterbur
Devil's Backbone
In German
Riesen Pestwurz
Devil's Backbone
In French
géant Butterbur
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
gigante petasita
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Giant Butterbur
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Carrapicho gigante
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Giant Lepiężnik
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Giant Butterbur
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Malpighiales
Family
Asteraceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Petasites
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Senecioneae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Asteroideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
12000
1
27800
👆🏻