Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
38
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodlands
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-129-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
-
Sunset Zone
H2, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,370.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,520.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Light Green, Gray Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Maple shaped
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 Fast
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
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water daily during growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Moderate
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
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
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
Aphids, Insects
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Nausea, Vomiting
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cramps, Dermatitis
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
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
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALEURITES moluccanus
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Aleurites moluccanus
Devil's Backbone
In German
Lichtnussbaum
Devil's Backbone
In French
Aleurites moluccana
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Aleurites moluccanus
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Aleurites moluccanus
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Nogueira-de-iguape
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Nogueira-de-iguape
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Aleurites moluccanus
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Euphorbiales
Malpighiales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Aleurites
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Aleuritideae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
502000
1
27800
👆🏻