Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Grass
Origin
Madagascar
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Foxtail muhly, Devils Canyon muhly, alkali muhly
Number of Varieties
82
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
High elevation, Hillside, Slopes
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-137-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12 - 7
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm45.72 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Pink, Purple, White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown, White
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Light Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green, Gray Green, Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full 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
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Needs less watering, Water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Grass Cuttting and pruning up to 5cm, Prune in early spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, EDTA iron
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
Bees, Butterflies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
-
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
MUHLENBERGIA emersleyi
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Bull Grass
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Bull Grass
In German
Devil's Backbone
Bull Grass
In French
Backbone du Diable
Bull Herbe
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Bull Hierba
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Δελτίο Grass
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
touro grama
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Bull Trawa
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Bull Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Cyperales
Family
Crassulaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Muhlenbergia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Eragrostideae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Chloridoideae
Number of Species
2000180
1
27800
👆🏻