Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
Southern Africa, South Africa
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Acacia aulacocarpa, Papuan wattle, Red wattle
Number of Varieties
816
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Valley, wooded grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-139-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-8
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, H2, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm910.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm910.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Light Yellow, Lemon yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Tan, Chocolate
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Keep the Soil well drained, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply N-P-K
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
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Good for skin and hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Abdominal Disease, Anthelmintic, Back pain, Chest pain, Colic, Cough, Diarrhea, Digestive disorders, Dysentry, Emetic, Febrifuge, Liver problems, Sore Eyes, Stomachic, Tonic, tonic in pregnancy, Tooth ache, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms, Treating fever, tuberculosis, Upset stomach, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Bark, Seeds, Stem, Tree trunks
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Gum, Used as fuel, Wood is used for making furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
PELTOPHORUM africanum
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Black Wattle, Weeping Wattle
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Black Wattle Tree
In German
Devil's Backbone
Schwarz Akazie Baum
In French
Backbone du Diable
Noir Arbre Wattle
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Negro del árbol del zarzo
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Μαύρο Wattle Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Árvore da acácia negra
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Czarne Drzewo akacji
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Niger Wattle ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Rosopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Gentianales
Family
Crassulaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Peltophorum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Caesalpinieae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
200015
1
27800
👆🏻