Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
Madagascar
Types
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
258
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-159-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink, Tan
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
-
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Once a week
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
No pruning needed in the early stages
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Flies, Insects
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dry Mouth
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for insects
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Weight loss
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
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
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Hoodia gordonii
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
ǁhoba, Ghaap
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Hoodia
Devil's Backbone
In German
Hoodia
Devil's Backbone
In French
Hoodia
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Hoodia
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Hoodia
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Hoodia
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Hoodia
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Hoodia
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Malpighiales
Family
Apocynaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Hoodia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Stapeliae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Asclepiadoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
252000
1
27800
👆🏻