Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia, Australia
Madagascar
Types
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
58
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Warm and moist climatic conditions
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-159-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Yellow, Light Pink, Ivory
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Sandy Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Plum
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
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
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Get enough water whenever the soil is dry
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
Average
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
Red blotch
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibiotic, Cough, Headache, hemorrhoids, Respiratory Disorders, Rheumatism
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Flowers, Leaves, Wood
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used as essential oil
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
Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
MELALEUCA quinquenervia
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Cajeput Tree, Paperbark Tree, Punk Tree
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Paperbark tree
Devil's Backbone
In German
Paperbark tree
Devil's Backbone
In French
Paperbark tree
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Paperbark tree
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Paperbark tree
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Paperbark tree
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Paperbark tree
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Paperbark tree
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Malpighiales
Family
Myrtaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Melaleuca
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
132000
1
27800
👆🏻