Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Sedge or Rush
Origin
Madagascar
Northeastern United States, Western Europe
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
-
Number of Varieties
825
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Grassland, moorlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-134-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
8-4
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm15.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Light brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Blue Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long hair-like leaves
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Divison
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Aphids, Brown Spots, Galls
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Wildlife
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Ground Cover, Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Leaves
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used for Landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CAREX flacca
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
blue sedge, gray carex, glaucous sedge, carnation-grass
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
ब्लू सेज
In German
Devil's Backbone
Blau-Segge
In French
Backbone du Diable
Bleu carex
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
azul de la juncia
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
μπλε σπαθόχορτο
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
azul Sedge
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
niebieski turzyca
In Latin
Narum diaboli
blue Sedge
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Cyperales
Family
Crassulaceae
Cyperaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Carex
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
20002000
1
27800
👆🏻