Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Shrub
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America
Madagascar
Types
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
18
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
shrublands, tropical grasslands
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99999-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.80 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Light Green, Tan
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lanceolate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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
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
Pest Free
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Bees, Flies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
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, Herb / Vegetable
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Mexican Tea
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Dysphania ambrosioides
Devil's Backbone
In German
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
Devil's Backbone
In French
Épazote
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Dysphania ambrosioides
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Μεξικού τσάι
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Dysphania ambrosioides
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Komosa piżmowa
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Dysphania ambrosioides
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Dysphania
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Dysphanieae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Chenopodioideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
302000
1
27800
👆🏻